Assistance with equalizing for someone with narrow ear canals

[cleomagic]

You may laugh at my response, but I had equalizing problems for a number of years, mainly on repetitive dives. I now use ear drops before and after every dive. This is a homemade concoction of 50% isopopryl alcohol and 50% white vinegar. I've also seen recipes adding 5% Hydrogen Peroxide, but I don't use that. I generally bring along plenty of extra on dive trips. Onn my last dive trip, probably at least half the dive boat was borrowing my drops. The only "downside", if you can call it that, is that I smell like a salad, but it's a very small price to pay for something that works so well for me.

I also use this concoction when flying as I used to only be able to have 1 stop or my ears wouldn't clear with the repetitive take offs and landings, and this has really helped.

I can't speak to the science behind this, but it does work. If nothing else, it's worth a try, you have nothing to lose.

 

[Rhino1701]

See an ENT (ears-nose-throat) doctor before deciding on any gear fixes. There are two things I see wrong with your diagnoses. Your wife may not have a physiological problem with ear clearing at all, it could just be technique.

First you say your wife get's tropical ear infections, this tells me she gets water trapped in her outer ear canal. Next she has trouble equalizing, this tells me she can't push air through her Eustachian tubes, which is a middle ear problem. The Eustachian tubes are located right near your tonsils and leads up to your middle ear.

Having a narrow outer ear canal should not affect the ability to equalize. Having thin tubes does. It could all be just a technique problem with equalizing. Does she have any trouble popping her ears on a plane or when ascending a mountain? If not, then it's probably all technique.

sorry i assumed her getting infections all the time from getting water in the ear was due to the narrow ear canal and and because she had a narrow ear canal this would make it more difficult to equalise her ears. she does have issues with her ears on a plane and even driving down mountains.
she was given a referral to a specialist but just hasn't organised it yet.
thanks for all the helpful info
cheers

---------- Post added March 10th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ----------

As has already been said, the ear infections one gets from swimming involve the external auditory canal (the tube from the outer ear to the drum). The skin there gets soft and vulnerable from being wet, and bacteria set up shop in it. This has nothing at all to do with being able to equalize, which involves the Eustachian tube, or the tube from the middle ear to the throat. I have a small essay on the difference HERE.

Problems with equalizing are most often due to technique, and the good news is that the technique can be learned and practiced without ever getting in the water. HERE is a good video about the diver's ear, anatomy and equalization. If your wife can pressurize her ears on land, and can make airplane flights without undue difficulty, the chances are very good that she simply needs to learn how and when to clear her ears underwater. Do be aware, however, that ear problems are also a frequent excuse used by people who are anxious and really don't want to be underwater. If this is your wife's issue, it's probably a better idea not to push "solutions" at her.

TSandM,
thanks for the info and i wont be pushing her into diving, she just said while i was doing my open water that she wished she could do it too and was jealous. i thought i might try to find some ways to help her with her ear and then present them to her so she could try them and then maybe she might be able to go diving after all. i think i will push her to go to the specialist though.
cheers

 

[Rhino1701]

Crass3000, faze, Diver0001, g1138, TSandM, Peter_C, cleomagic,

thanks for all the info. i assumed that she got all the ear infections from swimming etc due to having a narrow ear canal and i thought this might also be the resason that she has trouble equalising her ears. she has a referral to see a specialist so maybe i need to make sure she goes to this. i would not want to push her into anything, it was just during my open water course she said she wished she was doing it too and was jealous of me getting to go diving. i just thought i might be able to get some examples of how to help her equalise her ears, present them to her and see if it helped that way she might be able to go diving after all.
thanks again for the help, i learned something new and it is never a wasted day when you learn something new
cheers

edit: sorry for the double thankyou but my first disappeared and i couldn't find it so i posted this as a thankyou.

 

[buddhasummer]

I first equalize before my head goes under and constantly equalize all the way down, since doing this I rarely have an issue, prior to doing this I often had problems as would usually wait until I felt pressure before attempting to equalize. By the time you actually feel discomfort/pressure is it often too late and an ascent is required.

 

[Peter69_56]

Also think about "ear" masks - these a rigid pocket that sits over the ear and is linked to the mask and means that the ear is subjected to the same pressure as in your mask. They are ideal for people who have difficulty equalising or problems with ear infections.... IST Pro Ear mask - [url]www.simplyscuba.com - YouTube[/URL]

I have seen these but I dont see how they help with equalisation as your mask has to have the same pressure inside as out thus if the ear pockets are linked to your mask with tubes, then your ears are then at the same pressure thus you have equalised. If you have not equalised internally via the mask, and the ear pockets are just acting as covers over your ears, if your mask is inadvertantly knocked off you will have instant pressure on your ears and I would assume a ruptured ear drum?

They would however help prevent ear infection by limiting when your ears are exposed to salt water. On the odd occassion we have had issues, we use a commercailly available ear solution (from chemist) to wash out the ears after a dive. Seems to work fine.

 

[Rhino1701]

I first equalize before my head goes under and constantly equalize all the way down, since doing this I rarely have an issue, prior to doing this I often had problems as would usually wait until I felt pressure before attempting to equalize. By the time you actually feel discomfort/pressure is it often too late and an ascent is required.

I didn't do this, equalize at the surface, but did every metre or so, so I was able to enjoy the dive without any discomfort, but I have been practicing the different techniques dr Kay showed. And I finally got the wife to make an appointment with the ear specialist. Thanks again everyone