![]() Your eardrum is what separates the middle ear and the ear canal, but when the air pressure changes rapidly or becomes unequal outside the eardrum and in the middle ear, this can damage your eardrum. Typically, this condition is often experienced by scuba divers, but it also commonly happens while riding on an airplane, particularly when the plane is ascending and descending.įor your eardrum to function correctly, there needs to be equal air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. Barotrauma is a condition that can be painful and can even lead to dulled hearing and tinnitus. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier 2017:chap 71.When the eardrum becomes stretched and tense, barotrauma of the ear occurs due to the unequal pressure that develops on either side of the eardrum and can affect the inner, middle, and outer ear. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier 2023:chap 131. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Talk to your provider about using decongestants if you plan to scuba dive. Try to avoid altitude changes while you have an upper respiratory infection or active allergy symptoms. You can use nasal decongestants (spray or pill form) before altitude changes. Contact your provider if the discomfort does not ease after a few hours.Ĭontact your provider if you have barotrauma and new symptoms develop, especially: Outlook (Prognosis)īarotrauma is usually a benign, self-limited condition that responds to self-care. If you must change altitude often or you are prone to barotrauma, you may need to have surgery to place tubes in the ear drum. In this procedure, a surgical cut is made in the eardrum to allow pressure to become equal and fluid to drain ( myringotomy). ![]() Rarely, surgery may be needed if other treatments do not work to open the tube. You may need antibiotics to prevent or treat an ear infection if barotrauma is severe. Steroids taken by mouth, or by a nose spray.Decongestants taken by mouth, or by a nose spray.You may need medicine to relieve nasal congestion and allow the eustachian tube to open. ![]() If self-care steps do not ease discomfort within a few hours or the problem is severe, you may need to see a provider. Barotrauma may be severe in these situations. Diving while you have allergies or a respiratory infection is dangerous. Scuba divers should go down and come up slowly. For infants and small children, nursing or taking sips of a drink may help. Repeat the listed steps to open the eustachian tube. When flying, DO NOT sleep as the plane prepares to land. Inhale, and then gently exhale while holding the nostrils closed and the mouth shut.To relieve ear pain or discomfort, you can take steps to open the eustachian tube and relieve the pressure, such as: Severe barotrauma may cause the eardrum to look similar to an ear infection. If the condition is severe, there may be blood or bruising behind the eardrum. Feeling of pressure in the ears (as if underwater)ĭuring an exam of the ear, the health care provider may see a slight outward bulge or inward pull of the eardrum. ![]() Other symptoms may develop if the condition is very bad or goes on for a long time, such as: Sensation of fullness or stuffiness in the ears.Ear discomfort or pain in one or both ears.It may also be caused by swelling in the throat. If you have a congested nose from allergies, colds, or an upper respiratory infection, you are more likely to develop barotrauma.īlockage of the eustachian tube could also be present before birth (congenital). The problem often occurs with altitude changes, such as flying, scuba diving, or driving in the mountains. Many people have barotrauma at some time. If the eustachian tube is blocked, the air pressure in the middle ear is different than the pressure on the outside of the eardrum. This helps equalize pressure on either side of the ear drum. Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows air to flow into or out of the middle ear. The eustachian tube is a connection between the middle ear and the back of the nose and upper throat. The air pressure in the middle ear is most often the same as the air pressure outside of the body. When you need to gain more weight during pregnancyīarotitis media Barotrauma Ear popping - barotrauma Pressure-related ear pain Eustachian tube dysfunction - barotrauma Barotitis Ear squeeze DefinitionĮar barotrauma causes discomfort in the ear due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum. ![]()
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