Eustachian tube questions...

[Pat Mustard]

Okay, so I am fairly new to diving and got myself certified last summer. I don't normally have any difficulty equalizing, in fact I find opening my eTubes quite easy, simply swallowing or squeezing the right jaw muscles seems to work.

That said I found a couple of times when diving that I had more difficulty equalizing my right ear, the left never seems to be a problem. I recently used some Debrox and got some impressive quantities of wax out of the right ear, but none from the left.

I have also noticed that when I burp (sorry), with my mouth closed my ear drums often flex. I've no idea if this happens all the time but I have noticed it during two colds when my ear gets a little bit sore.

So here are my questions:

• Is it likely that the difference in equalizing ability and stuff is just down to physiological asymmetry?
• Is it normal or a concern that my ear drums flex when I burp? I guess this means my eTubes open easily?
• Do you see any concerns for diving?

I've not really had any issues to speak of, I used some swimmers ear drops a few months back in my left ear, and that stang a bit. I also notice an occasional high frequency in the normal background white noise in my left ear.

 

[TSandM]

I think it's quite common for people to have one side that clears more easily than the other. None of us is perfectly bilaterally symmetric. As long as both are fairly easy, it doesn't matter. And the cerumen (earwax) in the external ear has nothing to do with the equalization process, which involves the structures on the other side of the eardrum.

If you feel changes in the pressure in your pharynx in your eardrums, that would suggest that you have very patent Eustachian tubes, which should make your diving life easier. (That's the only way I can interpret "eardrums flexing when I burp".)

You might enjoy watching Dr. Kay's (long) video on the ear in diving HERE.

 

[Pat Mustard]

Thanks TSandM,

Yes that's what I mean about burping, it seems to momentarily increase the pressure in my middle ear.

Thanks for the video link, my wife and I watched it when we were getting certified and she found the different techniques particularly helpful. It really should be required viewing.

One more quick question, carrying on the thought that my eTubes open very easily, my ear drums flex/pop/move frequently through out the day, it's always been like that as long as I can remember. Could the frequent movement/activity on my ear drums have any negative impact, or is it something like muscles that are healthier for the workout?