my daughter needs to clear on asent is this OK?

[mstevens]

Usually the air escapes around the ear drum without any action on the part of the diver.

It actually leaves the way it came in, by way of the eustachian tube. It would only go past the ear drum in the case of a perforation.

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.

That's the nasolacrimal duct. It's connected to the airway in a way that's similar to the eustachian tubes, but is anatomically separate from them. Think of your upper airway as a manifold with a variety of tubes, large and small, coming off it. I once managed to clear a low-volume mask by bubbling air out of the corners of my eyes. Great way to freak people out. For those who do this, closing the eyes tightly will often prevent air from bubbling out.

 

[DennisW]

Got it! THX - I must be hearing things.

Take care!

Actually, you are hearing things. You are hearing the air pressure in your inner changing. The pressure changes actually come through the eustacian tube. You hear it in your inner ear, because that is where all of your hearing organs are located. I'm not a Dr. and I've never played one on TV, but I have a pretty good basic knowledge of the human anatomy.

Now, Mr. Stevens? He is a MD, or so his profile says.

 

[MatWill]

its called a reverse squeeze

it usually happens if you dive with congestion.. or if you dive after taking a decongestient (which wears off during the dive)

if she is clearing with the Frenzel maneuver then it sounds like its not going to be a problem

but have a talk to her about if her head feels blocked before a dive, being unable to clear a reverse squeeze could be potentially very dangerious (to the ears)

 

[Tigerman]

blowing air through your tear canals in my experience is only a matter of how hard you blow.. I can do it fairly easilly, but Im still certified and diving (to little now that its ice on the freaking water here) and cant see why you cant dive because you can do it..
However, when in doubt.. Call the doc.. And dont call the GPs office whos gonna answer "you cant dive" because he dont have a clue about dive medicine and dont wanna be sued if hes wrong..

Ontopic: I have to clear on ascent some times.. a simple yawn tend to be enough..

 

[nilajean]

I have to clear frequently and it is a challenge for me. I'm a new diver but I have found that I need to clear on the way up every time. I also wonder if it is normal to have blocked ears for a day or two after diving. My ears feel like they are "popping" when I yawn but they stay blocked. Anyone else have this experience?

 

[Tigerman]

I have to clear frequently and it is a challenge for me. I'm a new diver but I have found that I need to clear on the way up every time. I also wonder if it is normal to have blocked ears for a day or two after diving. My ears feel like they are "popping" when I yawn but they stay blocked. Anyone else have this experience?

Sometimes.. its water drops not getting out of the ear canal...

 

[frankc420]

I have to clear frequently and it is a challenge for me. I'm a new diver but I have found that I need to clear on the way up every time. I also wonder if it is normal to have blocked ears for a day or two after diving. My ears feel like they are "popping" when I yawn but they stay blocked. Anyone else have this experience?

Every single time I dive =)

 

[H2Andy]

most times i am ok, but sometimes i need to clear on ascent (yawning does it), and i do have blocked ears for a couple of days after diving

it happens often enough that i've noticed it

Sometimes.. its water drops not getting out of the ear canal...

hmm... i thought it had to do with my sinuses ... it only happens when i am stuffy

 

[Charlie59]

Watch out! That sensation of blocked ears after diving can be an indication of repeated ear damage by rupture of a thin membrane in the ear. Blocking on the name now but called the "?" window in the inner ear. May be an indication you need to pay more attention to your sinuses/clearing while diving.

See DAN site for details.

 

[H2Andy]

yeah ... i imagine it's not good ...

it usually only happens when, on the way down, i have to clear a lot more, and with some residual pain (usually i clear basically automatically)

and i do get a sharp pain on my left (always my left) cheek, below my eye ...

that's when i know i'm gonna be blocked for a day or two