Ear issues and OW dives

[fisherdvm]

My son just finished his pool sessions yesterday. He had ear pain on 2 of the pool sessions. The first one a week ago, as he forgot to clear as he descended. Then yesterday, after he did multiple OOA drills/ESA/buoyant ESA from 12 ft pool.

I check his ear after both dives, and his left ear just has a little inflammtion from a little excess pressure. He was very careful at clearing his ears yesterday, but the rapid ascent from the ESA drills (about 5 or 6, as the instructor demonstrated one, then he did one) - likely cause his ears to pressurize too rapidly before they vented. My guess is that his ear will be back to normal in a day or two.

I don't want his OW water dives to get ruined by a more significant ear problem. How do you prevent this, assuming that they will have him do an ESA from 30 ft or so? Should I talk to his OW instructor about this, so they can waive him from the ESA. I mean, he did it fine in the pool, why risk blowing out his ear drums if it is not to save his life. He did watch the video on ear clearing, and appear to understand the techniques well.

 

[Sylvain]

Are you a DOCTOR if not then let the PRO do his job and wait until a proper check of his ear is done don't rush things as he still has lots of time to complete his course and if for any reason the instructor says that he must complete his check out dive then wait and go finish your check out dive somewhere else it is not worth the risk.

 

[do it easy]

I'm not a veterinarian, but I think he should wait until his ears can handle the skills. This is a basic principle- if he's not well enough to dive, then call the dive. If he has a chronic ear problem that will always give him trouble, then maybe scuba isn't a good sport for him.

As far as waiving the ESA- I would guess that waiving the skill would also waive the c-card.

 

[Ann Marie]

Hi.

DVM - Vet? Take your son to HIS physician. While you may be licensed to diagnose a ear problem in an animal; do you really want to take the chance of a misdiagnosis of your son’s ear (especially in regards to an activity where pressure related ear injuries happen as well as otitis externa and perforated tympanic membrane)?

If your son is being certified through PADI, he will need to do a CESA in open water before certification. It is CESA- Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent. If he was performing rapid ascents, then he needs to slow it down to the correct ascent range (60'/min).

 

[saltydawg]

Practicing physician who was first a veterinarian, ok next comment?????

 

[Prostar]

The ears take a beating with all the up down, up downs of training. Let the doc check him over, give the ears a rest and I suspect it will work out. The average dive, where you drop down, swim around and surface isn't nearly as rough on the ears as training.

 

[DandyDon]

From his profile....

Practicing physician who was first a veterinarian.

This really is a good video: Ear Equalizing Video from Univ of Washington, Really a must-see for any newbie http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=189943

 

[fisherdvm]

Thanks, Danny, he watched the video already (before his last pool dive). I am probably more of a paranoid dad than really needed be. He had a very nasty cold before the first pool session. His ears are fine - function wise on the otoscope by the next day, except for a little inflammation. My guess is it is from aggressive clearing.

"Inflammation" from my perspective is really not bad. I have examined hundreds, if not thousands of tympanic membranes in my earlier years.

I think he will be fine by his OW in about 1 month. I just wanted to get some instructors perspective. He'll probably will not do very many ESA in the OW as he did in the pool. He had private lessons so the instructor did multiples of ascent and descents with him, which wouldn't have happened on group lessons. This is likely why the ear drums were inflammed.

Always good to hear from you folks... The video was very informative.

 

[MikeFerrara]

A couple comments here...

Then yesterday, after he did multiple OOA drills/ESA/buoyant ESA from 12 ft pool.

What agency? The conduct of "Buoyant emergency ascents" is NOT part of a PADI class.

He was very careful at clearing his ears yesterday, but the rapid ascent from the ESA drills (about 5 or 6, as the instructor demonstrated one, then he did one) - likely cause his ears to pressurize too rapidly before they vented.

While he may have had a reverse block, there is no point in the class where a student should be ascending so rapidly that the middle ear can't "vent" fast enough. In fact, there is no point during the course where a student should be ascending faster than 60 ft/min which is what PADI recommends as the FASTEST acceptable ascent rate.

In my experience, ear trouble in entry level courses is usually a result of insufficient buoyancy control. Knowing how to equalize is one issue and having good enough position control to provide enough time to equalize is another. Since, equalizing on descent often takes a consious effort while equalizing during ascent pretty much takes care of itself, the problem most often ocurs during descents. If we loook at how descents are often taught, student ear problems just shouldn't be any kind of surprise.

As long as we insist on rushing through all the skills and certifying divers without laying an adequate foundation of buoyancy control, we will continue to see LOTS of ear problems. If you ascend or descend faster than you can equalize, it just has to hurt. The answer is to STOP doing that!

 

[Geoff_H]

I am probably more of a paranoid dad than really needed be. He had a very nasty cold before the first pool session.

Are these two statements not diametrically opposed with one another? Why let your son dive with a huge conintradiction like a cold?