Arnaud
Contributor
Apparently, there is no scientific evidence that they help equalize. In my case, they really do.
Water in ear
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Interestingly enough, I cannot equalize right underwater until I have my ears full of water. Its one of the very first things I do when I hit the water in fact. If I have a problem getting water out, a drop of alcohol helps dillute the water and it usually rolls out of my ear in few seconds to a minute. Never had a problem with swimmers ear, ear infections or ear aches.
I should point out though that the recommendation from a DAN recognized ENT may be the best course to follow before using my remedy.
edit: disclaimer
I should point out though that the recommendation from a DAN recognized ENT may be the best course to follow before using my remedy.
edit: disclaimer
EliteDetail
Registered
docs pro plugs...for the post above... BE SURE YOU GET VENTED PLUGS! i think you would notice a real prob if you bought the non vented ones and dove down to about 50 feet. just what ive heard anyway. I bought a set of the vented today, hopefully they will work..has anyone else had any pros or cons about these plugs? im one of those people who suffer from swimmers ear as well as trouble with equalizing my ears...hope these help.
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Many divers report that vented ear plugs do help to reduce the frequency of infections of the external auditory canal. Fewer, but still some, also report increased ease of equalization, although the mechanism for this largely escapes me.
Do be aware that the plug vents are quite small and can become blocked, and the potential dangers of occlusion should be obvious. Make sure that they stay open.
There have been many extended threads on this topic and these can be accessed using the board's search function at---->
http://www.scubaboard.com/search.php?s=
Best regards.
DocVikingo
Do be aware that the plug vents are quite small and can become blocked, and the potential dangers of occlusion should be obvious. Make sure that they stay open.
There have been many extended threads on this topic and these can be accessed using the board's search function at---->
http://www.scubaboard.com/search.php?s=
Best regards.
DocVikingo
Frank O
Contributor
As a diver I've wondered the same thing, but I do hear personal anecdotal reports from sources I find credible. Could it be that the vented plug has the effect of slowing (but not preventing) the change in pressure in the outer ear? I've found myself that the rate of pressure change usually seems to have a direct relationship with the difficulty of clearing.
Here is a homemade remedy that a friend introduced me to -- a 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 alcohol solution. Works pretty good at getting that plugged up feeling out of your ears - smells bad, but . . . . .
Arnaud
Contributor
Note: I've never have any problem equalizing. I just believe the Pro Plugs makes it easier.
My 2 non scientific explanations are:
1. The PP reduces the volume of air actually trapped in the ear canal
2. The small venting hole, as opposed to the normal (and larger) width of the ear canal, makes the change in pressure more progressive.
Now, I understand that this may not make much scientific sense. As mentioned above, the reason I use these is to keep the water out. The equalization thing is just an added benefit as far as I'm concerned. This makes a difference when I'm DM'ing and have to go up and down to catch students with a less than perfect buyoancy.
My 2 non scientific explanations are:
1. The PP reduces the volume of air actually trapped in the ear canal
2. The small venting hole, as opposed to the normal (and larger) width of the ear canal, makes the change in pressure more progressive.
Now, I understand that this may not make much scientific sense. As mentioned above, the reason I use these is to keep the water out. The equalization thing is just an added benefit as far as I'm concerned. This makes a difference when I'm DM'ing and have to go up and down to catch students with a less than perfect buyoancy.
of your ears.
I have a tendency to get eczema in my ear canals, which builds up an then starts plugging my ear canals.
Since my ENT strongly warned against all kinds of ear drops designed to reduce the surface tension of water (they irritate the ear, and therefore encourage irritation and eczema), I came up with the following method:
take a piece of toilet paper, and twist one of the corners to a tightly rolled tip
insert the rolled tip in your ear canal and stop pushing when it feels as if it's going to get stuck
wait for about half a minute while keeping the tp in place
pull it out of your ear, and voilà
I checked this with my ENT, and he says this method is fine, as long as you don't push to hard. Never push hard enough to cause pain.
What happens is, that the tp - which is very absorbant - wicks some of the trapped water away, thus unblocking the ear canal enough for the rest of the water to get out.
While I'm at it, I'll pass on a warning from my ENT to all you neat freaks: the ear wax in your ear canal isn't useless, foul gook, but serves a purpose, namely protecting your ear canal and your ear drum. Remove too much of it, and you've no one else to blame for infections but yourselves.
Apart from the tp, you should never insert anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.
Waxy grease, er... greetz from
The Cat
I have a tendency to get eczema in my ear canals, which builds up an then starts plugging my ear canals.
Since my ENT strongly warned against all kinds of ear drops designed to reduce the surface tension of water (they irritate the ear, and therefore encourage irritation and eczema), I came up with the following method:
take a piece of toilet paper, and twist one of the corners to a tightly rolled tip
insert the rolled tip in your ear canal and stop pushing when it feels as if it's going to get stuck
wait for about half a minute while keeping the tp in place
pull it out of your ear, and voilà
I checked this with my ENT, and he says this method is fine, as long as you don't push to hard. Never push hard enough to cause pain.
What happens is, that the tp - which is very absorbant - wicks some of the trapped water away, thus unblocking the ear canal enough for the rest of the water to get out.
While I'm at it, I'll pass on a warning from my ENT to all you neat freaks: the ear wax in your ear canal isn't useless, foul gook, but serves a purpose, namely protecting your ear canal and your ear drum. Remove too much of it, and you've no one else to blame for infections but yourselves.
Apart from the tp, you should never insert anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.
Waxy grease, er... greetz from
The Cat
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