squealing ear?

[TSandM]

The risk of diving with squeaks and squeals is if you can equalize on the way down, you might not be able to do so on the way up...

I don't know . . . My ears squeak when I equalize going down, and always have, but I have so little difficulty equalizing going up that I get absolutely no data from my ears about depth changes in that direction. No squeaks, no squeals, no crackles, no nothing. I don't think you can say that noisy equalizing on descent predicts problems with reverse block going up.

 

[jon m]

thanks so much,
i guess im' not the only one!
i'll make sure to equalize more often, i like the idea of every breath, i'll try that!
anything to avoid the dreaded ear infection, THAT MUTHA' HURT!!!!
-me

 

[Don Burke]

I have found hydration, especially with orange juice, seems to help.

That leads me to chalk it up to congestion.

 

[Midnight Star]

During my first dive of the day, I often get a funny squeeling sound as my ears equalize. After that, everything is fine. I'm guessing it's due to air coming (or being pushed) in to equalize from a very narrow opening and creating a kind of "echo" or vibration (from a closed eustatian opening) almost like when a balloon is blown up, then the air is slowly let out (I know, it's kinda in reverse here), by slightly pinching the mouth of the balloon together. The harder you pinch the higher the pitched sound you get. The air opening is slow close to the eardrum, that the slightest noise is going to be loud.

Yes, I do occassionally hear that "ears are full of water" sound, after a dive, even when there's no water in them. I'm thinking that it's due to the expansion and contraction of the eustatian tube and surrounding area during compression and decompression. Like a squeeky axle in a car that has just been moved for the first time - takes awhile to get everything loosey and goosey.

i'm going to start using alcohol in ears after dives, recommended by several divers and doctors, does anyone else do this?

I use this often! It's great for getting water out of your ears, that doesnt come easily out on it's own. Mine is a homemade mixture of 50% clean water, and 50% isopropyl alcohol ... commercially it used to be called Swim Ear. I'd be afraid of undiluted alcohol stinging or irritating my ear drum. I beliete it works by breaking down the surface tension of the water, so it readily drains out. Works great! and might even kill some of the bacteria that gets in there and causes an infection.

-----

Mike.

 

[Midnight Star]

One additional note after thinking more about it...

I've noticed the squeeling in my ears during equalization only happens when i've gone too deep too fast (equalization has fallen behind descent rate), and the tubes have closed off so much, I need to hold my nose and force air in the eustatian tube (or ascend up a bit and try): once equalization has fallen behind, I can no longer just flex my ear muscles, or move my jaw to equalize, unless I ascend first or force air in.

-----

Mike.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

I use this often! It's great for getting water out of your ears, that doesnt come easily out on it's own. Mine is a homemade mixture of 50% clean water, and 50% isopropyl alcohol ... commercially it used to be called Swim Ear. I'd be afraid of undiluted alcohol stinging or irritating my ear drum. I beliete it works by breaking down the surface tension of the water, so it readily drains out. Works great! and might even kill some of the bacteria that gets in there and causes an infection.

Isopropyl alcohol is already partially diluted, but you are right to dilute it with more water. 50/50 is about right. Swim Ear, Aurodri and other preparations are actually, Iso alcohol, water and Boric Acid. The alcohol is to dry out the ear and the Boric Acid is to retard bacterial/fungal growth. You can make the same thing by mixing a 50%/50% mixture of Isopropyl Alcohol and White Vinegar. The vinegar provides the acidic environment like the boric acid in the commercial preparations.

I have been told by a couple divers that they make the above using Everclear and water in place of the Isopropyl Alcohol. They say that they make it this way so that it is non-toxic, if someone were to drink it. I think it's just an excuse to buy Everclear.

 

[Midnight Star]

I think it's just an excuse to buy Everclear

Yeah, that stuff is for, um, the Rocketeer *slash* scuba diver ...

-----

Mike.

 

[adza]

If you've got some spare time on your hands, check out this online video: http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.aspx?rID=2272
(Retrieved from this webpage http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/)

Got some really good information on the eustation (sp?) tube, equalising, etc

 

[wanadive]

yer! Fighting it going on 4 months and over $400 bucks to Dr.s' -they can't seem to find a problem...well dugh - there is one which only I can hear evidently. Drats! Wish I could find relief somewhere?!?! Tired of hearing muffled sounds and ringing and my heart beat! URGH!