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Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

Surfer’s ear: the condition that might leave wild swimmers and surfers with hearing loss

Surfer's ear happens when growths develop on the bones of the auditory canal. speedshutter Photography/ Shutterstock

Cold water swimming, paddleboarding and surfing are all popular pastimes – with millions of people in the UK regularly participating in at least one type of outdoor watersport each year.

But those bravely breaking the waves may not realise they could actually be putting themselves at risk of hearing loss due to external auditory canal exostosis – better known as surfer’s ear.

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