Doc's Proplugs- Hit or Miss?

[love2fishfork]

Susan,
Thanks for the info.

I'm going to Coz in two weeks, so I'm looking forward to hearing how you like them.

 

[Damselfish]

I received the fitting kit from Doc. The fitting kit includes one of every size and says to use the hum test, but nowhere does it say what the hum test is. There are no instructions for how to select the best fit. Can anyone help me?

I emailed them this question and here is the reply I (eventually) got:

Dont put any earplug on, and press one ear with a finger (like if you don't
want to hear something) and hum.
Now put one earplug on and do the same: the hum should sound the same.

If it doesn't sound the same then you dont have the correct earplug size.

(It is so silly that they say to use the hum test without telling you what is is, and still haven't done anything about that!)

 

[susan6868]

Damselfish- thanks for the clarification. My husband and I had a tremendous laugh when we read the packaging and they referred to the "hum" test.
You're right, silly to send you all the different sizes and simply tell you to hum.
You look at these things and just go hmmmmmmmmm......................

 

[donnyb]

I have problems with water in my ear over time causing itching, etc.
Same ear had ruptured eardrum 5 years ago, healed up after the requisite 8 weeks. Still can clear, but not as easy as the other. Got the plugs a year ago, and use them every time. Clearing is no different, but no more water in the ear canal and no more itching! Overall I am satisfied, and I believe the people who tell me they get easier clearing, even if I did not.

 

[donooo]

We checked with a doctor thru DAN. They said nope, don't use them. Now, you'll see Dan all over the box and display. They are a DAN sponser, not indorsed by DAN. This is a "doctor" thing, not a "dive shop" thing".

adios don O

 

[tjmills]

We checked with a doctor thru DAN. They said nope, don't use them. Now, you'll see Dan all over the box and display. They are a DAN sponser, not indorsed by DAN. This is a "doctor" thing, not a "dive shop" thing".

adios don O

Are you sure they understood what they were? These are vented and designed for Scuba. I have used these on the last 10 dives and can't say enough good about them. They have even been down to 125 feet with no issues.

 

[donooo]

Yep, they knew what they were. If they work, they work. Sometimes the testing sucks.

don O

 

[tjmills]

We checked with a doctor thru DAN. They said nope, don't use them. Now, you'll see Dan all over the box and display. They are a DAN sponser, not indorsed by DAN. This is a "doctor" thing, not a "dive shop" thing".

adios don O

That is vastly different than DAN say "nope, don't use them". I actually contacted DAN after reading this and they responded with the following:

"The use of ear plugs while diving is a topic among medical professionals that is still debated. DAN does not endorse nor prohibit their use. The opinion of dive ENT specialists is that if they are used, proper maintenance and understanding possible complications are essential. I am attaching an article that discussed this topic in "Alert Diver". The article is also posted on our web-site:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=33

We do currently acknowledge that divers do use them successfully and are satisfied with their performance. Please understand that the consulting physicians approach product evaluation from a research point of view. If we can be any further assistance do not hesitate to contact DAN. "

While DAN admits that they have not done any real research, they do acknowledge that many are reporting they do work and no problems have been reported. Physicians have concerns that they must be maintained and cleaned so that the vent does not become plugged and the possibility of them becoming potentially blocked while in the water. This would seem to me to be a very remote possibility and relatively easy to fix if it were an issue but I am no doctor either.

What I did get out of this is that if you have ear problems.....Get them checked before you use them and before you dive anyway. I for one will keep using them until I HEAR otherwise.

 

[Dectek]

Put me down for a thumbs up!

I bought a pair to use on vacation this past week and found that they performed as advertised and solved my problems. I called it the 2nd dive/ 2nd day syndrome. I had problems clearing on the 2nd dive of the day and on the 2nd day if I dove repeat days.

Dove all week and only aborted one dive. 2nd dive of the first day. I was not wearing plugs that day.

 

[susan6868]

Okay, I started this thing so I thought it only fair to follow up. Used them the first day of diving in Utila and they made absolutely no difference at all. Still had trouble equalizing and had some vertigo and that wet "slushy" feeling in my ear the rest of the day and through the night. Skipped the second and third dives that day and had that old familiar "squeak/crackle" sound in my ear every time I swallowed.
The next day a more experienced diver on my boat suggested I try a different approach. I left the Proplugs in my bag and instead, started equalizing at the surface.
He then suggested I gently equalize every two or three feet. He also insisted that I put my head all the way back as I equalized much the way you see people do when they have a nosebleed. His theory was that it somehow helped the "path" of the eustachian tube and made clearing easier. Well, I can tell you it worked like a charm. Did multiple dives every day and never once had a problem after that. I was the one who went on the earplug quest after actually perforating my eardrum two years ago while diving. I didn't think I'd ever be able to dive repeatedly witout having ear problems. It seemed like I was holdingmy nose and blowing every other breath but in reality, I wound up meeting everyone on the bottom at abou the same time. Because I was doing it almost continuously, it wasn't as if I actually "stopped" every few feet, and I never had to go up to relieve the pressure and try again.
Now, I've talked to a lot of people who have used the plugs and loved them, so I guess there must be something to them. However, I'm sure had I used the same method of equalization the first day with the earplugs in I would have had the same result and thought the plugs were the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Do they work? I don't know. But at twelve bucks a pop they're worth a try. I don;t think they can hurt. I'm just glad I got some free advice that really changed my diving experience completely.
PS- Many ENT's including mine recommend a combination of Afrin and Sudafed as well.
You might want to ask your doctor..............