Or, they may need to release the pressure or fluid with a small incision in your ear drum.
They may recommend inserting small pressure equalization tubes or a balloon to help dilate your eustachian tubes. 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. It contains 3 small bones that help transmit sound. The middle ear is an air-filled space between the inner and outer parts of the ear. It can cause pain and sometimes lifelong (permanent) hearing loss. Extended use of decongestant nasal sprays can also cause more congestion than relief, and even result in a type of addiction. It is caused by pressure differences between the inside of the ear and the outside of the ear. 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. Over-the-counter nasal sprays or decongestants can also help air travelers to shrink the membranes and help the ears pop more easily. If you have allergies, take your medications at the beginning of your flight. You and your children should avoid sleeping during descent because swallowing may not occur often enough to keep up with changes in air pressure. Plus, babies cannot intentionally pop their ears, but sucking on a bottle or pacifier can help. You’ll know if it worked when you hear a pop, and your ears feel less plugged.īabies and children are especially vulnerable to ear blockage because their eustachian tubes are narrower than in adults. Ear barotrauma is a condition that causes a person to feel pain or discomfort in the middle of their ear due to pressure changes in the surrounding air or water.
You can also try pinching your nose, taking a mouthful of air, blowing gently (not forcefully) against your pinched nose, then swallowing. Yawning, chewing gum, or sucking on hard candy can help, especially just before take-off and during descent.
The simplest way to help clear your ears-particularly when flying-is to swallow.