Voluntary tubal opening

[Warhammer]

I have a question for some of you more experienced divers. The "voluntary tubal opening" is discribed as Tensing the muscles of the soft palate and the throat while pushing the jaw forward and down as if starting to yawn. These muscles pull the eustachian tubes open. My question is when this method is done correctly do you here a roar in both ears? I can hold my nose shut and swallow creating pressure in my ears, then use this method easily to relieve the pressure, so I'm anxious to try this on a dive. What method do you usually use?

 

[SubMariner]

Hey, WH!

What you are describing is also called The Frenzel Method, while the other (akin to "blowing your nose") is referred to as The Valsalva Method. And yes, when you do it you may "hear a roar" in your ears.

Either method is fine. It all depends on which one works the easiest & quickest for YOU.

Some people find they cannot do the Frenzel at all. Others can do either, preferring the Frenzel when their hands are in use for gear, hanging onto the descent line, etc.

In all cases, the main thing about ear clearing is to do it EARLY and OFTEN, BEFORE you feel any discomfort.

After suffering a nasty barotrauma in BOTH ears several years ago, my hyperbaric physician stated that divers should start the equalization process BEFORE THEY EVEN HIT THE WATER. IOW, equalize during equipment assembly, while gearing up, on the surface, and just keep doing it till you hit your desired depth. This way you essentially "warm up" or "stretch" your eustacean tubes before diving, which makes the whole process much easier underwater. Not unlike doing leg stretches before running or bicycling. Same idea.

Following that little piece of advice has made things much easier, even with a hood in cold water.

BTW, another way to help with ear clearing is to descend slowly, feet first.

DSDO,

~SubMariner~

 

[Warhammer]

describes the frenzel Method as:

Close your nostrils, and close the back of your throat as if straining to lift a weight. Then make the sound of the letter "K." This forces the back of your tongue upward, compressing air against the openings of your eustachian tubes.

The method I'm thinking of doesn't require closing the nostrils, it's just done by constricting the muscles and pushing your jaw foward.

 

[SubMariner]

I've not heard of closing the nostrils to do a Frenzel... only doing it the way we have both (basically) described it.

Don't get hung up on semantics. Just practice different methods & see what works best for YOU.

DSDO,

~SubMariner~

 

[Warhammer]

I thought we were talking about the same method, just calling it different things. Thanks for answering my qustion and I'll try it on my next dive. This seems to be an excellent way to equilize to me. No more grabbing the nose and blowing. And swallowing bloats me so maybe I can master this one for continous equilization all way the to my desired depth. Wish my instructors had taken the time to show us this method. Regards.

 

[SubMariner]

In this Quarter's "Undersea Journal" (Journal for PADI Dive Professionals) there was an article by Dr. Edmund Kay, MD called "Preventing Middle Ear Barotrauma" that outlined no less than *8* techniques for equalization that include Frenzel, Valsalva, and several others I've never heard of that are combinations of one of those and other types of movements such as a jaw thrust or head tilt.

If you're interested, email me & I'll give you the rundown from the article.

DSDO,

~SubMariner~

 

[iceselkie]

http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.asp?rid=789

This page has Dr.Kay's presentation, if interested. I found it to be very helpful to watch.

 

[liberato]

Warhammer is talking about the Beance Tubaire Volontaire (BTV) . It is perhaps the most elegant if not most difficult of the equalization techniques. See LubaScuba's comment here for a tip on the BTV. Failing that, the Frenzel is probably the best alternative to the crude and less desirable Valsalva.

 

[herman]

I have been on this board way to long......did any one else wonder if WH was back? Talk about old threads, itdoes bring back fond memories of the early days of SB.

 

[Walter]

Naw, when I saw the thread I kew it was an old one. I have missed him (if not all of his contributions). BTW, he was correct, that was the voluntary tubal opening he described.