The simplest way to help clear your ears—particularly when flying—is to swallow. Yawning, chewing gum, or sucking on hard candy can help, especially just before take-off and during descent. You can also try pinching your nose, taking a mouthful of air, blowing gently (not forcefully) against your pinched nose, then swallowing. You’ll know if it worked when you hear a pop, and your ears feel less plugged.
Babies and children are especially vulnerable to ear blockage because their eustachian tubes are narrower than in adults. Plus, babies cannot intentionally pop their ears, but sucking on a bottle or pacifier can help. You and your children should avoid sleeping during descent because swallowing may not occur often enough to keep up with changes in air pressure.
If you have allergies, take your medications at the beginning of your flight. Over-the-counter nasal sprays or decongestants can also help air travelers to shrink the membranes and help the ears pop more easily. However, if you are pregnant, or have heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, thyroid disease, or excessive nervousness, consult your physician before using these medications. Extended use of decongestant nasal sprays can also cause more congestion than relief, and even result in a type of addiction.
If your ears fail to open, or if you are experiencing persistent pain in your ears, seek the help of an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist. They may recommend inserting small pressure equalization tubes or a balloon to help dilate your eustachian tubes. Or, they may need to release the pressure or fluid with a small incision in your ear drum.
FAQs
Mild to moderate cases take an average of up to two weeks for a full recovery. Severe cases can take six to 12 months for a full recovery after surgery. When barotrauma leads to an infection or if the pain is intense and symptoms are not resolving or are worsening, you should make an appointment to see your doctor.
Is ear barotrauma permanent? ›
Ear barotrauma is a type of ear damage. It is caused by pressure differences between the inside of the ear and the outside of the ear. It can cause pain and sometimes lifelong (permanent) hearing loss.
Why won't my ear pressure go away? ›
When pressure builds up in the ears, people can usually relieve it by yawning, chewing gum, or wiggling the jaw. If these do not help ears pop, a person may need a nasal spray or other medical treatment. From altitude changes to ear infections, there are many reasons why pressure may build up in the ears.
How do I fix my ears after altitude change? ›
Swallowing or yawning can unclog blocked ears when you are going up or coming down from high altitudes.
What are the long term effects of barotrauma? ›
The prognosis for barotrauma is good, most of these conditions are self-limiting. Most TM and external canal injuries heal spontaneously. Inner ear trauma, especially with a perilymphatic leak or endolymph/ perilymph mixing, may lead to chronic hearing loss (cochlear), vertigo, and tinnitus.
Is barotrauma hearing loss reversible? ›
Expected duration of barotrauma
Perforations of the eardrum often heal on their own, but this can take weeks. You may not be able to hear as well until the ear is fully healed. If your perforation has not healed after two months, you may need surgery to prevent permanent hearing loss.
What is the prognosis for ear barotrauma? ›
Mild symptoms of ear barotrauma usually last a few minutes. If they last longer, you may need treatment for an infection or another problem. Serious damage, such as a burst eardrum, may take a few months to heal.
What medication is used for ear barotrauma? ›
Ear injury barotrauma: Your provider may prescribe decongestants. If you ruptured your eardrum, you might need surgery called tympanoplasty to patch your torn eardrum. Pulmonary barotrauma: Treatment depends on your situation. In most instances, you'll need oxygen therapy and bed rest.
What are the stages of barotrauma? ›
Grade 1: diffuse redness and retraction of the TM. Grade 2: Grade 1 plus slight hemorrhage within the tympanic membrane. Grade 3: Grade 1 plus gross hemorrhage within the TM. Grade 4: Dark and slightly bulging TM due to free blood in the middle ear (a fluid level may also be present)
Can ear pressure be permanent? ›
Normally, the eustachian tubes open when you do things like swallow or yawn. This naturally equalizes the pressure in your middle ear. If the eustachian tubes become narrowed or blocked due to a disease or condition, you may feel ear pressure that doesn't go away naturally.
A myringotomy is a procedure to create a hole in the ear drum to allow fluid that is trapped in the middle ear to drain out. The fluid may be blood, pus and/or water. In many cases, a small tube is inserted into the hole in the ear drum to help maintain drainage.
How can I unblock my Eustachian tube? ›
You may be able to open the blocked tubes with a simple exercise. Close your mouth, hold your nose, and gently blow as if you are blowing your nose. Yawning and chewing gum also may help. You may hear or feel a "pop" when the tubes open to make the pressure equal between the inside and outside of your ears.
Can elevation damage your ears? ›
When the eustachian tube in your middle ear is blocked due to altitude or pressure changes (sometimes called barotrauma), air cannot be equalized, and a vacuum occurs. This stretches the eardrum and causes pain and occasionally fluid.
How do you tell if your eustachian tube is blocked? ›
Blocked eustachian tubes can cause several symptoms. For example, your ears may hurt or feel full. You may have ringing or popping noises in your ears. Or you may have hearing problems or feel a little dizzy.
What is the Toynbee maneuver? ›
TOYNBEE MANEUVER | Pinch Your Nose and Swallow
Swallowing pulls open your Eustachian tubes while the movement of your tongue, with your nose closed, compresses air against them.
How long does a damaged inner ear take to heal? ›
Most ruptured (perforated) eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks. Your provider may prescribe antibiotic drops if there's evidence of infection. If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn't heal by itself, treatment will likely involve procedures to close the tear or hole.
Can inner ear damage heal over time? ›
As with damaged hair cells, the good news is that the eardrum is capable of repairing itself when it's torn and is usually back to its old self in a few weeks — although in some cases, intervention in the form of a patch is required to assist in healing.
How long does ear pressure take to heal? ›
On average, ear barotrauma takes up to two weeks to completely heal. Although severe cases involving surgery can take six months to a year for a full recovery.
