Scarlett Williams
Registered
I'm having issues equalizing my ears at mmy OW pool sessions...I can't hear any "pop" sound when I pinch my nose and blow :/ is this normal?
Equalizing ear problems
- Thread starter Scarlett Williams
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You may not hear anything when you pinch and blow gently, but you should feel relief if there is a squeeze in your ears.
Are you feeling anything painful? Are you having trouble descending?
Are you feeling anything painful? Are you having trouble descending?
runsongas
Contributor
if you valsalva on the surface, do you feel/hear a difference where you are forcing extra pressure into your tubes? if not, you may need to try and take decongestants
OP
Scarlett Williams
Registered
No haven't felt any pain (yet) but ive only done one pool session so far and that was only clearing the mask and simple tasks...next week is the deep end and equalizing it is weird because my right ear i can hear clicking sounds so that must be working, but my left i cant hear anything :/
OP
Scarlett Williams
Registered
Yes i can hear clicking sounds in my right ear as i do it at home but nothing from the left ear :/ only had one pool session so far so i suppose ill just see how it goes but your right i was thinking of getting sudafed or something similar maybe? whats the best to take ?
So... recommendations,
Make sure you're not congested or sick before the dive. Try to stay clear of meds that can wear off while underwater.
Definitely attempt to clear your ears before descending. If you're training with PADI, it's already part of the 5 point descent (SORTED.. E-Equalize Ears and Elevate Low Pressure Inflator)
Most people who have normal ears and have troubles with clearing simply do not attempt to clear their ears until it feels off or they feel the squeeze, or even pain. Basically, they wait too long to clear.
Bottom line: Equalize at the surface before descending. Then, deliberately equalize every few feet. Keep your ear canals, and eustachian tubes open and clear. I do so with each breath, or every other breath. If you feel the squeeze, you waited too long. After lots of dives, you'll get a feel for what's right for you, then you're all set.
If you feel pain, you're not equalizing soon enough. If one ear clears, but the other doesn't, stop descending and try stretching your neck out on the uncleared side, make a chewing motion, stretch your ear/neck up and blow gently. Other instructors have more tips, but these ones usually do the trick.
Good Luck, and after your certified, if you ever make it to Hawaii, Oahu... send me a message and will hit up a dive!
Respectfully,
DiveSitnalta
Make sure you're not congested or sick before the dive. Try to stay clear of meds that can wear off while underwater.
Definitely attempt to clear your ears before descending. If you're training with PADI, it's already part of the 5 point descent (SORTED.. E-Equalize Ears and Elevate Low Pressure Inflator)
Most people who have normal ears and have troubles with clearing simply do not attempt to clear their ears until it feels off or they feel the squeeze, or even pain. Basically, they wait too long to clear.
Bottom line: Equalize at the surface before descending. Then, deliberately equalize every few feet. Keep your ear canals, and eustachian tubes open and clear. I do so with each breath, or every other breath. If you feel the squeeze, you waited too long. After lots of dives, you'll get a feel for what's right for you, then you're all set.
If you feel pain, you're not equalizing soon enough. If one ear clears, but the other doesn't, stop descending and try stretching your neck out on the uncleared side, make a chewing motion, stretch your ear/neck up and blow gently. Other instructors have more tips, but these ones usually do the trick.
Good Luck, and after your certified, if you ever make it to Hawaii, Oahu... send me a message and will hit up a dive!
Respectfully,
DiveSitnalta
Whatever you do, don't mess around with not being able to equalize.....and DON'T take sinus pills before you dive!
I wasn't thinking and took some sinus pills before my dive two weeks ago (allergies so I take them out of habit), and I've really buggered up my ears.
My left ear is completely blocked and I can't hear out of it, and my right has about 40% hearing. I waited a few days and went to the doctors and they gave me some drops to take (swimmers ear drops, but better than over the counter).
After about 5 days there was zero improvement, so I went to a different doctor who told me my ears were a mess and is sending me to see an ENT (ear nose & throat specialist), and also prescribed me a different type of med.
My right ear now seems to be back to normal (or at least close enough that I can't quite tell), but my left is still not good. Better, but not good.
The doctor thinks it was a combination of me not equalizing often enough, taking the meds, and what I don't recall learning........equalizing upon ascent.
Apparently you aren't supposed to do that! Maybe that was in my PADI course, but I legitimately don't recall reading it.
Your ears will equalize on their own on the way up, so when you try the valsalva maneuver on the way up you are just adding extra pressure on your eardrum and run the risk of puncturing it.
Don't take my word as a new diver, look it up yourself.
Good luck, I hope your testing goes great.
John
I wasn't thinking and took some sinus pills before my dive two weeks ago (allergies so I take them out of habit), and I've really buggered up my ears.
My left ear is completely blocked and I can't hear out of it, and my right has about 40% hearing. I waited a few days and went to the doctors and they gave me some drops to take (swimmers ear drops, but better than over the counter).
After about 5 days there was zero improvement, so I went to a different doctor who told me my ears were a mess and is sending me to see an ENT (ear nose & throat specialist), and also prescribed me a different type of med.
My right ear now seems to be back to normal (or at least close enough that I can't quite tell), but my left is still not good. Better, but not good.
The doctor thinks it was a combination of me not equalizing often enough, taking the meds, and what I don't recall learning........equalizing upon ascent.
Apparently you aren't supposed to do that! Maybe that was in my PADI course, but I legitimately don't recall reading it.
Your ears will equalize on their own on the way up, so when you try the valsalva maneuver on the way up you are just adding extra pressure on your eardrum and run the risk of puncturing it.
Don't take my word as a new diver, look it up yourself.
Good luck, I hope your testing goes great.
John
ouch... yep. stay clear of meds that wear off.
Basically, the mucus and other blockages will return and then will plug the tubes at depth, then as you ascend the air in the tubes and inner ear begin to expand... if it can't escape into the throat (normal ear/sinus pathways) then it will be painful.
Your eustachian tubes are unique to you, some are as thin as a plastic shopping bag, others are like industrial strength kevlar pipes... some folks can just swallow or yawn and their tough tubes will simply clear, others need to take extra steps, like those above, to keep their thin or twisted tubes open and clear with deliberate clearing.
Clear early, often, and deliberately, well before you feel any pain and you'll be good to go. My best friend had issues with his ears during training. He followed the advice above, takes his time during descents, and now he's an advanced open water diver doing all kinds of diving, to include U/W photo competitions. You'll figure it out and hav a great time diving. Just take your time. If anyone rushes you, give them the wait-a-minute finger. 
Basically, the mucus and other blockages will return and then will plug the tubes at depth, then as you ascend the air in the tubes and inner ear begin to expand... if it can't escape into the throat (normal ear/sinus pathways) then it will be painful.
Your eustachian tubes are unique to you, some are as thin as a plastic shopping bag, others are like industrial strength kevlar pipes... some folks can just swallow or yawn and their tough tubes will simply clear, others need to take extra steps, like those above, to keep their thin or twisted tubes open and clear with deliberate clearing.
Clear early, often, and deliberately, well before you feel any pain and you'll be good to go. My best friend had issues with his ears during training. He followed the advice above, takes his time during descents, and now he's an advanced open water diver doing all kinds of diving, to include U/W photo competitions. You'll figure it out and hav a great time diving. Just take your time. If anyone rushes you, give them the wait-a-minute finger.
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