A Few Questions About Equalization

[The_Paper_Cut]

---

---

A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

This post has been moved from Introductions for the benefit of a wider audience of divers who might benefit from the discussion.

---

I just got open water certified last weekend, and I absolutely love this activity/sport/hobby! Just 25ft below the surface and you’re already in another world. One of the best experiences of my life. But I do have a few questions.

Is it possible to be physically unable to equalize? I knew I’d have some difficulties doing it because I had troubles in the pool, and I have a history of ear infections. But the first 2 dives I was unable to equalize and had to resurface. I ended up getting fluid behind my eardrum and was able to equalize to get my certification.

Is it common for young people to have more equalization problems? There were a few other people my age who also had to surface due to equalization problems.

Will equalizing become easier as I keep diving? My Dive Master told me that as I keep doing it, it will exercise those muscles and make it easier.

Will equalizing on land a few times a day make it easier when I dive? I saw on an old thread on here that one guy had issues like me and he said he equalized on land 2-3 times a day for a year and that it really helped him.

Sorry for all the questions. I’m just very concerned because I love diving and I want to be able to keep doing it without problems. Thanks!

 

[SJT1961]

Equalize soon and often. If the pressure builds up too much, it's harder to equalize unless you go up a bit. At the first feeling of pressure build-up, equalize; don't wait until it's uncomfortable. You'll get the hang of it.

 

[rsingler]

Yes, practice makes perfect in this instance. I don't know about "exercising those muscles", but everyone's technique is subtly different, and the more you practice, the easier it is to do.

Make sure you equalize early, and often in the first 30 feet. 5-6 times.

Yes, there can be anatomic challenges. But there is a new surgical technique: balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube. Takes 15 min as an outpatient operation, and may make a difference for select individuals.

Also get some advice about technique. It may help to turn your head away from the affected side, jut your jaw while you pinch your nose and blow, and then swallow.

Everyone has a favored technique. Just practice.
And don't be worried about "crackly" wet ears after a weekend of diving. It generally clears quickly.

Cheers!
Diving Doc

 

[GreggS]

First of all, welcome to the aquarium. This is one of the most fun but relaxing activities you can engage in.

Now, I can't answer all your questions, but I would like to address the second part of your first question. I, too, get ear infections easily due to water. I just can't seem to get my ears to drain the way they should following a dive. I do mostly quarry diving and right after becoming certified, I would get very painful ear infections. I tried all the "ear beers" I heard about but nothing help. Therefore, I have been using ear plugs specifically designed for scuba diving for the past 3 years and have not had an ear infection since. They are vented and should be available at any dive shop. If you get the proper size, they will allow equalization without letting water get into your ears. I highly recommend them to anyone that also suffers ear infections (swimmer's ear).

Equalization should become easier as you gain experience. Some people are able to do it easily while others take a while to learn how. Just work on it and keep diving. Slow descents while equalizing every 2-3 feet is what you want to do. If your ears start hurting, you are already too deep which makes equalizing that much harder. Just ascend until they stop hurting and equalize there, then start descending again.

Hope this helps.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

I'm certainly no expert in the subject matter, but I can speak a little about equalizing.
1. I would say No, it's probably not possible that you just can't equalize. Some people just have a harder time than others, especially if it's not something they're used to. I suppose anything's possible but highly doubtful in my opinion. Can you ever hear a popping sound in your ears when you swallow? What about when you move your jaw to one side or the other? Maybe these would be easier methods for you to try if the Valsalva method isn't working quite right for you. Like you, I have a history of ear infections from when I was younger. I had tubes inserted in my ears 4 times by the time I was 4 years old. I have lots of scar tissue in my tympanic membrane (TM) because of it. And I was really worried about whether or not I'd be able to equalize when I first started diving. And the first couple times it hurt a little . Not excruciatingly, but it wasn't exactly comfortable. But now that I've done it who knows how many times, it actually feels better when I do.

2. I would just the opposite. I would think younger people would have an easier time equalizing just because the muscles are "fresher" if that makes sense.

3. I'm not an instructor and again I don't claim to have any professional knowledge on the subject matter, but IN MY EXPERIENCE....yes it will get easier the more you do it. Like anything else, muscle memory certainly plays a part, so the more used to it those muscles get, the easier it will be for them to do what you ask when you ask.

4. I can't really answer one way or another on this because I spent plenty of time equalizing on land before I actually started my OW class. But I recently heard a PADI Asst. Instructor telling my son not to practice equalizing on land because he could damage his TM. He's doing the PADI Seal Team training right now. She said it's much easier on the membrane at depth because you have a greater force pushing inward against it so it doesn't require as much outward force to open the eustachian tubes. To me that sounds like a reasonable explanation. But I don't feel like I did any damage to my TM by practicing it on the surface.

If you got fluid behind your eardrum, though....you like ruptured it and had a pinhole sized tear in the membrane. I actually ruptured mine in the pool during my OW doing a pike dive and waiting until too late to equalize. It didn't hurt but I was able to blow bubbles out of my ear the rest of the day. Cost me six weeks of waiting to redo my class. I actually waited a year because I was nervous about it.

My advice is just keep at it. And make sure you equalize early and often. For me, I do it about every 2-3 feet. Granted I don't have to pinch my nose since I use a full face mask that places nodes in my nostrils to close them off, but still it's the same principle. Hope that helps!

 

[The_Paper_Cut]

I'm certainly no expert in the subject matter, but I can speak a little about equalizing.
1. I would say No, it's probably not possible that you just can't equalize. Some people just have a harder time than others, especially if it's not something they're used to. I suppose anything's possible but highly doubtful in my opinion. Can you ever hear a popping sound in your ears when you swallow? What about when you move your jaw to one side or the other? Maybe these would be easier methods for you to try if the Valsalva method isn't working quite right for you. Like you, I have a history of ear infections from when I was younger. I had tubes inserted in my ears 4 times by the time I was 4 years old. I have lots of scar tissue in my tympanic membrane (TM) because of it. And I was really worried about whether or not I'd be able to equalize when I first started diving. And the first couple times it hurt a little . Not excruciatingly, but it wasn't exactly comfortable. But now that I've done it who knows how many times, it actually feels better when I do.

2. I would just the opposite. I would think younger people would have an easier time equalizing just because the muscles are "fresher" if that makes sense.

3. I'm not an instructor and again I don't claim to have any professional knowledge on the subject matter, but IN MY EXPERIENCE....yes it will get easier the more you do it. Like anything else, muscle memory certainly plays a part, so the more used to it those muscles get, the easier it will be for them to do what you ask when you ask.

4. I can't really answer one way or another on this because I spent plenty of time equalizing on land before I actually started my OW class. But I recently heard a PADI Asst. Instructor telling my son not to practice equalizing on land because he could damage his TM. He's doing the PADI Seal Team training right now. She said it's much easier on the membrane at depth because you have a greater force pushing inward against it so it doesn't require as much outward force to open the eustachian tubes. To me that sounds like a reasonable explanation. But I don't feel like I did any damage to my TM by practicing it on the surface.

If you got fluid behind your eardrum, though....you like ruptured it and had a pinhole sized tear in the membrane. I actually ruptured mine in the pool during my OW doing a pike dive and waiting until too late to equalize. It didn't hurt but I was able to blow bubbles out of my ear the rest of the day. Cost me six weeks of waiting to redo my class. I actually waited a year because I was nervous about it.

My advice is just keep at it. And make sure you equalize early and often. For me, I do it about every 2-3 feet. Granted I don't have to pinch my nose since I use a full face mask that places nodes in my nostrils to close them off, but still it's the same principle. Hope that helps!

I’m surprised I found someone like me. I also had tubes in my ears when I was a baby, that’s part of the reason why I knew equalizing would be hard in the first place. You sharing that calmed some of my nerves about the whole thing. So far it seems like everyone is suggesting to keep practicing when diving and it will get easier, so I guess I have an excuse to go diving more often now. Thanks for the advice!

 

[The_Paper_Cut]

Yes, practice makes perfect in this instance. I don't know about "exercising those muscles", but everyone's technique is subtly different, and the more you practice, the easier it is to do.

Make sure you equalize early, and often in the first 30 feet. 5-6 times.

Yes, there can be anatomic challenges. But there is a new surgical technique: balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube. Takes 15 min as an outpatient operation, and may make a difference for select individuals.

Also get some advice about technique. It may help to turn your head away from the affected side, jut your jaw while you pinch your nose and blow, and then swallow.

Everyone has a favored technique. Just practice.
And don't be worried about "crackly" wet ears after a weekend of diving. It generally clears quickly.

Cheers!
Diving Doc

Thanks for the advice! I’m glad to hear that some of these things aren’t exactly “abnormal”. That definitely helps ease my mind. I normally do tilt my head in order to equalize, it’s what one of my Dive Masters told me to do and it works a lot better for me. And if that doesn’t work, I just tilt my head and swallow and that usually gets the rest of it.

 

[The_Paper_Cut]

First of all, welcome to the aquarium. This is one of the most fun but relaxing activities you can engage in.

Now, I can't answer all your questions, but I would like to address the second part of your first question. I, too, get ear infections easily due to water. I just can't seem to get my ears to drain the way they should following a dive. I do mostly quarry diving and right after becoming certified, I would get very painful ear infections. I tried all the "ear beers" I heard about but nothing help. Therefore, I have been using ear plugs specifically designed for scuba diving for the past 3 years and have not had an ear infection since. They are vented and should be available at any dive shop. If you get the proper size, they will allow equalization without letting water get into your ears. I highly recommend them to anyone that also suffers ear infections (swimmer's ear).

Equalization should become easier as you gain experience. Some people are able to do it easily while others take a while to learn how. Just work on it and keep diving. Slow descents while equalizing every 2-3 feet is what you want to do. If your ears start hurting, you are already too deep which makes equalizing that much harder. Just ascend until they stop hurting and equalize there, then start descending again.

Hope this helps.

I think after my 5th dive I got a better understanding of how often and when to equalize. I’ll definitely take a look at those dive ear plugs because those may be able to help me a lot. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Addicted2H2O]

Honestly, it sounds more like a neurological problem than a physical problem. In other words, you're so focused on it being a problem that it makes it more difficult for you to actually do it. Just tell yourself that you can do it and that it's no big deal and as soon as you start the positive thinking, I can almost guarantee you it'll get incrementally easier.

 

[boulderjohn]

When I first started diving, after a lifetime of sinus issues, I had so much trouble equalizing that an instructor told me that diving might not be in my future. I hung in the shallow water, struggling, while everyone else was down below waiting for me. Here is what I did about it in the first years of diving--roughly only 20 dives per year.

• I learned to practice equalizing days and even weeks before a dive trip. I would equalize repeatedly while watching television, for example.
• When I arrived at the beginning of a dive vacation, I would make my diving arrangements and then immediately go snorkeling--and by that I mean freediving. I would descend again and again and again, trying to get a little deeper each time.
• As our boat headed out to the dive site, I would equalize over and over again. I would equalize just before entering the water.
• I used some products to help open my sinuses. I bought a little bottle of eucalyptus oil in Australia, and a sniff of that would make equalizing a dream. I sometimes used something like Afrin to open things up. (Do not use it with a cold, though!)

By the third day of a dive trip, I had no trouble equalizing on a dive.

Several years after that period, I because a DM, and then an assistant instructor, and then an instructor. By then I was diving frequently. Today I have no trouble equalizing whatsoever. I barely give it a thought. (Usually--anyone can have a bad day.)