Barotrauma

[scubahiro]

Hi All,

Since this is my first post, I figured I would make it a good one.

When I did my OW checkout dives in October, I was dumb enough to do them while recovering from a nasty sinus infection. I did all the dives with no problems, no squeezes, pain, or anything else. The short of it is that after the emergency ascent, I came up and had a full feeling in my left ear. I did no other dives after that, as it was the last day of diving. Never did I feel anything but a fullness. I thought it was water in the ear.

When I got home, I went to the doctor who said that I had an ear infection. He put me on some antibiotics and decongestants. I came back in a week and he said the infection was gone. But, I was still feeling the fullness in my left ear. He kept me on decongestants. And, when it did not abate, I sought out an ENT who specializes in dive medicine. He did an audiogram and found some mild hearing loss in the left ear in the high frequencies. This was in accord with some mild ringing in my left ear. He checked me out and said I was good to dive, notwithstanding the ringing etc, so long as I could clear. He is a very good dive ENT. His rec was be careful, clear early and often, and if something feels weird either don't dive or abort the dive. I have followed his advice.

I have done 20 dives since then. I never have any problems clearing. I go down slow, clear early and often, and have great dives. Never have any blood, nausea, pain, or anything. I still have the mild ringing in my left ear, and it feels a little full, not much--and if I did not know it was there, I might not know it was there.

Short of it: it has been six months. Will the ringing or fullness go away? Should I take any extra precautions in diving?

Thanks!

Scubahiro

 

[holdingmybreath]

No idea if the fullness feeling will leave or what is causing it but the ringing (tinnitus) may or not subside over time. I have ringing in my ears occassionaly but forturnately it doesn't drive me crazy and is very intermittent. I broke a tympatic membrane several years ago and signs of that have long since disappeared but certain sounds still make that ear feel full or slightly plugged. Being a freediver I can say that it doesn't affect the equalizing one bit in my case. I need to be able to equalize quickly, inverted, and with just a breath of air, - no room for even slight complications.

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Hi Scubahiro,

Did your ENT mention a ruptured round or oval window?

These are membrane covered openings into the inner ear. It is possible to rupture them or cause them to leak. It that occurs, there may be vertigo and/or tinnitis.

As perilymph drains from the inner ear, the flow can break the cilia lining the hearing organ. The end result may be tinnitis and hearing loss.
This will be permanent.

Some recommend not diving again to avoid and further hearing loss.

I had a barotrauma over 20 years ago. My ears still ring and I have high frequency loss. I cannot locate a chirping bird or a shrill whistle because I cannot triangulate with my ears. I can hear the sound in the "good ear" but you need the other it ascertain direction.

My tinnitus and hearing loss are definitely worse when my wife is talking to me.

Here is a link that deals with tinnitus. You can also check on other ENT problems there as well.

http://www.scuba-doc.com/entprobs.html#Tinnitus

Now this can become you excuse for not taking out the garbage!

Laurence Stein, DDS

 

[scubahiro]

Hi,

Thanks for the info. He did not think that it was a ruptured round or oval window given that I had no rushing sound, no vertigo, no nausea, etc. He diagnosed it as mild inner ear barotrauma, whatever that is.

I presume you have been diving over the past 20 years, and it has not gotten worse?

Thanks!

scubahiro

Hi Scubahiro,

Did your ENT mention a ruptured round or oval window?

These are membrane covered openings into the inner ear. It is possible to rupture them or cause them to leak. It that occurs, there may be vertigo and/or tinnitis.

As perilymph drains from the inner ear, the flow can break the cilia lining the hearing organ. The end result may be tinnitis and hearing loss.
This will be permanent.

Some recommend not diving again to avoid and further hearing loss.

I had a barotrauma over 20 years ago. My ears still ring and I have high frequency loss. I cannot locate a chirping bird or a shrill whistle because I cannot triangulate with my ears. I can hear the sound in the "good ear" but you need the other it ascertain direction.

My tinnitus and hearing loss are definitely worse when my wife is talking to me.

Here is a link that deals with tinnitus. You can also check on other ENT problems there as well.

http://www.scuba-doc.com/entprobs.html#Tinnitus

Now this can become you excuse for not taking out the garbage!

Laurence Stein, DDS