The outer ear

outer-ear

While the outer ear is a great place to display jewellery, it is specifically designed to collect sound. Sound begins as motion. When objects vibrate, molecules of air are set in motion and transmitted as sound waves.

The outer ear’s bell-like contours guide and focus these sound waves into the ear canal, where they’re aided and amplified by its spiralling shape.

This natural phenomenon works so well we copy it to hear even better: a radio announcer cups his hand around his ear, simultaneously gathering sound in and blocking background noise out.

Once inside the ear canal, sound waves travel on until they reach the eardrum, the dividing point between the outer and middle ear.

Outer ear infections

A relatively common type of ear infection is swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa. This is an infection of the skin of the outer ear canal most often caused by a micro-organism called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. So, the site of the infection is in front of the eardrum, rather than behind it, as in middle ear infections.

The outer ear is normally a dry environment. Prolonged exposure to excessive moisture – as may be the case if your child swims, showers or washes their hair frequently may result in the removal of the protective wax layer in the outer ear. This makes the ear canal susceptible to infection from bacteria and fungi.

Swimmer’s ear is normally treated with drops that contain antibiotics. The accompanying pain is usually stronger than in middle ear infections, and is typically associated with persistent itching, redness and swelling of the outer ear, pus discharge, and muffled hearing.

There are a few simple, and yet effective, ways to reduce your child’s risk of developing swimmer’s ear.

Make sure they swim only in properly disinfected pools, and encourage them to wear a bathing cap.
Teach them to dry well their ears after swimming, showering and washing their hair, using a clean towel. Have them turn their head to each side to get the water out of their ears, first.
Check them regularly for scratches in their ears, as these can easily become infected. If you do find injuries, keep your child’s ears as dry as possible for at least a week or two.
Pay careful attention, when cleaning your child’s ears, not to remove the protective wax layer in the ear canal.