Ear perforations

[Emma streeter]

Hi

I perforated my right ear drum whilst diving 5 weeks ago, just been for a gp check up and they say the other one is perforated as well but couldn't help with any advice wether I can carry on diving any help is appreciated. They also said that they are unlikely to heal but as long as not causing any problems with hearing it would be ok

 

[rsingler]

Diving with a perforation is NOT okay. If cold water passes thru the perforation during a dive, you are at risk for sudden, incapacitating vertigo. Not dizziness, but a disorienting spinning sensation. Occurring unexpectedly, this is a significant safety issue.
Additionally, you are at a greater risk for middle ear infection.
Many perforations CAN be repaired with a small paper patch that facilitates healing, though it requires a surgical procedure. Most perforations heal on their own over the course of weeks to months.
The bigger question is, why have you sustained two perforations? Is there an anatomic issue which needs to be evaluated? There is a new outpatient surgical procedure available to dilate the Eustachian tube if that is an issue.
Or is there a diving technique which has contributed? Is additional training in order?
Did you dive with a cold?
These are the sorts of things which might be discussed with a physician experienced in diving.

Good luck with your diving journey!

Diving Doc

 

[Emma streeter]

Diving with a perforation is NOT okay. If cold water passes thru the perforation during a dive, you are at risk for sudden, incapacitating vertigo. Not dizziness, but a disorienting spinning sensation. Occurring unexpectedly, this is a significant safety issue.
Additionally, you are at a greater risk for middle ear infection.
Many perforations CAN be repaired with a small paper patch that facilitates healing, though it requires a surgical procedure. Most perforations heal on their own over the course of weeks to months.
The bigger question is, why have you sustained two perforations? Is there an anatomic issue which needs to be evaluated? There is a new outpatient surgical procedure available to dilate the Eustachian tube if that is an issue.
Or is there a diving technique which has contributed? Is additional training in order?
Did you dive with a cold?
These are the sorts of things which might be discussed with a physician experienced in diving.

Good luck with your diving journey!

Diving Doc

The 1st perforation happened during a dive on having difficulty equalizing on accent, the second one is unknown. The doctor said that they would not heal and did not mention any options or surgery, did mention increased risk of infection but suggested earplugs to stop the water getting in. I had a lot of ear infections as a child so it has caused a lot of scarring on the ear drum. The gp said that as both were perforated there would be no build up of pressure so would be ok to dive just to be careful getting water into the ears

 

[rsingler]

Your GP suggesting you dive with earplugs is exhibiting a very basic lack of understanding about diving physiology. While his medical opinion about your perforations' repairability may or may not be correct, diving with earplugs is a Diving 101 no-no. It's not a judgment of his ability as a doctor. He just apparently doesn't know enough about diving.

Ask yourself: what happens to the airspace behind your earplug when you dive to 66 feet? With a similar difficulty clearing as you had before, the pressure inside your middle ear will be 1/3 of that outside. Unless your earplug migrates deep into your ear canal to equalize the pressure difference (which is now its own problem), you will seep serum from your tissues, or worse bleed into your middle ear until the pressure is equalized.

If the earplug does not seal completely and you have difficulty equalizing, it will be as I suggested above: you are at risk for incapacitating vertigo.

Please search out a diving physician, or at least ask for a referral to an ENT specialist, regarding this problem.
Perhaps @Duke Dive Medicine can weigh in here to give you additional advice.

Diving Doc

 

[lowviz]

I would echo everything @rsingler posted. My experience is here: Perforated an eardrum

 

[Saltyhawg]

More than a little surprised a FP doc would tell someone their ruptured TM was unrepairable. That's a call for otolaryngology to make. Like rsingler said he also knows nothing of dive physiology
..not to mention simple physics.

You would think if he understood why the rupture occurred he would understand how wrong his advice on diving again was.

 

[Superlyte27]

They absolutely will heal. I've had two from my days of commercial diving. It'll get better. Go slow.

 

[claymore]

As others have see an ENT. Diving with a perforated ear drum is a bad idea. I had one perforate on a dive. Instant vertigo and then a nasty inner ear infection.

 

[Searcaigh]

@Emma streeter

Please consult an ENT specialist.

Most perforations heal, I've had several over the past 30 years and still continue to dive.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Contact DAN they can recommend an ENT who is knowledgeable of diving

Scuba Diving Medical Safety Advice — DAN | Divers Alert Network