Most of us have experienced "swimmer's ear" at some point, but what exactly is this painful condition and how can we prevent it from spoiling our water fun? Acute otitis externa (AOE) is the technical name for an infection or inflammation of the lining of the ear canal. The condition gets the name "swimmer's ear" because it is more likely to occur among swimmers or surfers, especially in warm, humid climates. The condition usually develops after water gets trapped in the ear