my daughter needs to clear on asent is this OK?

[kelly7552]

My 13 year old daughter is taking up diving. She is in the process of being certified and I know that she has trouble clearing, she found that the 'yawning' technique works. Her instructor found it odd that she needs to clear on the way up as well as the way down. Is this odd? do others need to clear both up and down?

 

[mstevens]

I almost always need to clear both on descent and on ascent. Come to that, it's true when I'm on planes as well as diving. Sometimes going up and down local (somewhat wimpy) mountains will do it. This is the way ears are built. Think of it (or explain it to the instructor) this way: while descending, she blew air into her ears to equalize pressure at depth, to prevent an inward rupture of the TM. As she ascends, Boyle's law should make clear that the air used to equalize is going to expand. It needs to get out somehow! Some people don't notice it escaping. Others hear it squeak out. Many need to do something to help the process along. I'm a bit worried that her instructor has never run into this before.

 

[redrover]

I do, sometimes, sometimes more than others, sometimes just once or twice on descent.
I don’t look at is a need to though, like a black mark against me. It’s just more comfortable to clear as frequently as desired and don’t give it much thought really. Sounds odd her instructor thinks clearing is odd.

Am I doing something wrong to make small adjustments as frequently as I feel like it?

 

[Craig Baumann]

Yes, in my experience it is unusual that a person would need to clear upon ascent. Usually the air escapes around the ear drum without any action on the part of the diver. Most student divers are concerned about clearing their ears. I would say it's one of the most difficult skills for certain new divers to master. Clearing on the way down is a skill that's taught, but clearing on the way up is seldom discussed. Thanks for the tip, that it's difficult for some people. I'll keep an eye out for that future student, who has trouble clearing on ascent.

My son can't dive, because he can't clear his ears at all. When he pinches his nose and exhales to try to accomplish it, air comes out of his eyes, so somehow his Eustachian tubes are connected to his tear ducts.

If the yawning is working for your daughter, that sounds great. Best of luck to her.

dg

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Kelly7552,

As long as equalization on ascent can be performed consistently, effectively, gently and without discomfort, there is no reason for concern.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[DocVikingo]

My son can't dive, because he can't clear his ears at all. When he pinches his nose and exhales to try to accomplish it, air comes out of his eyes, so somehow his Eustachian tubes are connected to his tear ducts.

Hi Craig Baumann,

The Eustachian tube and tear duct both enter the nasal passage in close proximity to each other. The nasolacrimal duct contains a one-way valve designed to prevent flow from the upper nasal passage to the eye. If this valve does not function correctly, equalization techniques such as the Valsalva maneuver can cause air and fluids to pass from the nasal passage up the tear duct and exit in the lower interior corner of the eye.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[DennisW]

Everyone has to equalize on ascent as well as decent. Some people easily equalize, some don't. And I am sorry, but the air does not come around your ear drum, if it did you would have a perforated ear drum. So, this is normal, your daughter just has to ascend slower and concentrate on equalizing. I am generally lucky in that I equalize very easily.

 

[frankc420]

I sometimes have to equalize on the way up... just depends on the length of the dive. So she's not abnormal =)

 

[jpcpat]

No worries. Some people need to clear going in both directions. It's not that common, nor is it a problem. In fact as your daughter dives, it will probably get easier as he estaucian tubes stretch a bit

 

[kelly7552]

Thanks everyone, I'm feeling lots better about her diving!