What are the chances?

[akakinder]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me roughly what the chances are of losing your hearing (permanently) from diving in a pool, no deeper than 3m.

I ask because I was told by an ent specialist against diving, that it would be very likely after my bout of ETD and I could not deal with pressure suddenly. While a specialist, extremely experienced dive doctor told me the opposite and cleared me with no hesitation. I want to continue diving but of course, absolutely do not want to lose my hearing. If I went under and was unable to equalise, would I likely lose my hearing?

I'm just gauging knowledge and will feed back to my instructor too.

Many thanks for all of your time,
Amy

 

[Leighen]

No one should continue to descend if their ears are complaining, whether it's a causal swim in a 6' pool or a 100' wreck dive on scuba. That's just asking for trouble.

 

[akakinder]

No one should continue to descend if their ears are complaining, whether it's a causal swim in a 6' pool or a 100' wreck dive on scuba. That's just asking for trouble.

What do you mean by complaining?

 

[AfterDark]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me roughly what the chances are of losing your hearing (permanently) from diving in a pool, no deeper than 3m.

I ask because I was told by an ent specialist against diving, that it would be very likely after my bout of ETD and I could not deal with pressure suddenly. While a specialist, extremely experienced dive doctor told me the opposite and cleared me with no hesitation. I want to continue diving but of course, absolutely do not want to lose my hearing. If I went under and was unable to equalise, would I likely lose my hearing?

I'm just gauging knowledge and will feed back to my instructor too.

Many thanks for all of your time,
Amy

What does "deal with pressure suddenly" mean? Pressure changes while diving are gradual. that's the idea of ascent and descend rates, to manage pressure changes as it relates to the diver. Unless you intend to do negative drops from a boat or rocket to the surface like a missile I don't get the pressure suddenly bit. Sounds to me like the diving MD knows where its at.

 

[akakinder]

Yes, so she told me I can't deal with pressure suddenly including diving, flying, Eurotunnel etc. Where I got suspicious, so to speak - was when she told me that the most pressure was in the deep end and to go no further than six metres. Then the dive doctor told me it's actually the shallow end with the most pressure and if you can do 6 metres, you can do 16

 

[Leighen]

What do you mean by complaining?

Discomfort or pain.

 

[akakinder]

Discomfort or pain.

Before or during diving? I only ask because the dive doctor told me I could very easily just be hyper aware of how I feel. He told me feeling pressure was okay, pain absolutely not.

 

[RyanT]

Seek advice from an ENT (as you got) who is actually a diver. A non-diver will not understand that the biggest pressure change happens in the first 10 meters. After a perforated ear drum, my ENT told me to limit my diving to shallower depths; he simply didn't understand the pressure differentials at shallower depths. @doctormike?

 

[akakinder]

I'm not sure if mine was or not? But he is an extremely credible and qualified dive doctor here in the UK. His main appointment being - "Diving Hyperbaric Physician and Medical Director of London and Midlands Diving Chambers." So he knows what he's talking about. I agree with you about the ENT being oblivious as well. For example - she suggested I dived with goggles, not a mask, so I didn't have to equalise... But ultimately, knowing what she said about going deaf is kind of haunting me.

 

[Leighen]

Before or during diving? I only ask because the dive doctor told me I could very easily just be hyper aware of how I feel. He told me feeling pressure was okay, pain absolutely not.

Well if it's pain after diving, it's too late. As far as pressure vs pain, what your doc told you is reasonable.

I she suggested I dived with goggles, not a mask, so I didn't have to equalise..

Scary. Makes one wonder how many divers she has recommended that terrible advice to.