Buzz
Have you ever experienced ear discomfort during a flight? That sensation can be quite bothersome. The shift in air pressure throughout the journey places excessive strain on your inner ear, leading to pain caused by tinnitus. This often occurs during takeoff or landing, or even when diving underwater. Don’t worry, there are a few simple tips to help you and your children avoid tinnitus symptoms, ensuring you and your family remain truly comfortable.
Steps
Preventing Tinnitus
Recognize the symptoms. Whenever the surrounding air pressure changes, such as when you’re on an airplane in the sky, climbing or descending from a high altitude, or diving underwater, the pressure inside your ears will also shift. When external pressure changes abruptly, the internal ear pressure cannot adjust quickly enough. This imbalance between internal and external ear pressure, known as barotrauma, can lead to discomfort or even pain, such as:
- Aching or discomfort inside the ear
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Changes in hearing, often resembling the muffled sounds heard underwater
- In severe cases, you may experience hearing loss, ear bleeding, or vomiting.
Yawning and swallowing. To prevent ear discomfort or pain, you need to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside of your ear. Achieve this by yawning and swallowing, actions that open the Eustachian tube, allowing ear pressure to balance with the external environment.
- You can encourage swallowing by chewing gum, sucking on candy, or drinking water.
Create reverse pressure. Perform this by following a simple technique: close your mouth, pinch your nose, and blow gently. The trapped air will push against the Eustachian tube, releasing pressure through the ears.
- Avoid blowing too forcefully, as this can backfire and potentially damage the eardrum. Use just enough pressure to alleviate ear discomfort.
- Repeat this method multiple times, especially during takeoff and landing on flights.
Use specialized earplugs. Earplugs designed for pressure regulation can help balance ear pressure during altitude changes, minimizing discomfort.
- These earplugs are available at pharmacies and airport stores. While not guaranteed to work perfectly, they can significantly reduce ear discomfort during travel.
Treat congestion before altitude changes. Barotrauma is more likely to occur if you have a cold, sinus infection, or any nasal blockage. The Eustachian tube may remain closed due to inflammation from allergies or illness. If you experience difficulty breathing before altitude changes or diving, use decongestants or antihistamines as a preventive measure.
- Take decongestants, such as Sudafed, every 6 hours for 24 hours after landing to reduce sinus and ear membrane swelling. Follow the instructions on the label.
- For children, use nasal sprays as directed on the packaging. Pediatric nasal sprays contain formulas that help open the Eustachian tube without requiring adult medications.
- Avoid using decongestants before or during diving. The body's metabolism changes underwater, increasing risks associated with decongestant use.
- If your nasal congestion is severe, consider postponing your trip until you feel better, especially if you have a history of severe barotrauma.
Helping children stay comfortable
Keep children awake. Avoid lulling them to sleep before takeoff or landing; instead, keep them alert to help prevent barotrauma.
- Ensure they remain seated and engaged, perhaps by reading a book or watching something, to avoid drowsiness during cabin pressure changes.
- Prepare them for the loud noises and bumps during takeoff and landing to prevent fear. Reassure them with smiles and calm explanations that there’s nothing to worry about.
Encourage swallowing. Provide something for them to suck on, as this is highly effective. Prompt them to swallow frequently during takeoff, landing, or when they mention ear discomfort.
- Breastfeeding or offering a pacifier or bottle works well for infants. Older children can sip water or suck on candy.
- Teach older children about swallowing techniques beforehand so they can follow your reminders when needed.
Fake a yawn to encourage them to yawn. Yawning is contagious, so if they see you pretending to yawn, they’ll likely yawn too.
- Yawning helps open the Eustachian tube, balancing the pressure inside their ears with the cabin pressure.
Reconsider travel plans if the child is sick. This is crucial, especially if the child has a history of severe barotrauma.
- Avoid decongestants for children and consider rescheduling flights if they have nasal congestion or sinus issues to prevent barotrauma and protect other passengers from illness.
- If the child has flown before without discomfort, rescheduling may not be necessary.
Consult a doctor about ear drops. Ear drops can numb the sensation, preventing pain and discomfort during ear pressure changes.
- While this is a stronger approach, it may be suitable for children particularly sensitive to ear discomfort.
Dealing with Tinnitus
Wait for pressure to equalize. If you experience ear discomfort during flights or diving, it typically resolves once you land or return to the surface.
- Even if pressure doesn’t balance immediately, your ears should return to normal within an hour or two. Yawning and swallowing can speed up recovery.
- For some, it may take days for the pressure to equalize, during which hearing might be slightly impaired, though this is rare.
Seek medical attention for severe symptoms. If discomfort worsens or persists beyond a day, consult a doctor. Severe barotrauma, though rare, can cause ear damage or hearing loss. While it often heals on its own, medical advice is crucial to rule out complications. Seek immediate treatment if you notice:
- Prolonged discomfort or pain
- Intense ear pain
- Ear bleeding
- No improvement in hearing loss
Consider treatment for persistent barotrauma. In rare cases, surgery may be required to restore ear pressure balance. This involves creating a small incision in the eardrum to release pressure and fluid. If pain persists, consult a doctor to determine if surgery is necessary.
- Avoid flying, diving, or any activities involving significant altitude changes until fully recovered. Recurring issues may indicate the need for surgical intervention.
Tips
- When yawning, sound isn’t necessary, but ensure your mouth opens fully and gently move your jaw side to side a few times, repeating as needed.
- Begin these preventive techniques as soon as you sense pressure building and continue until you’ve landed.
- Some of these tips may not apply while diving underwater.
- On flights, listening to music or using earplugs can also help.
Warnings
- Diving while using decongestants can lead to serious injuries.
- Diving at high altitudes above sea level during allergies or respiratory infections can be dangerous.
- If you hear ringing or buzzing in your ears, you may need to remove earwax or seek medical treatment for more severe cases.
- If you’re aware that risks increase with colds or congestion, the quickest solution is to avoid flying until symptoms subside. Your ears aren’t the only area affected by air pressure; blocked sinuses can also cause pain during significant pressure changes, such as during descent.
