Diving and problems with balancing ear pressure

Each of us, even without diving, has experienced the unpleasant feeling of pressure in the ears. It is usually caused by differences in pressure. Usually we are able to get rid of this problem without any problems, but how to proceed when the problem persists and does not allow us to enjoy diving?

Before you decide to hang up your fins and give up, make sure you’ve done everything in your power to bring about a resolution to your ailment using a few simple methods.

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Of course, the first thing we should not do when we feel pain is to continue diving. By doing so, we can only cause ourselves suffering and worsen our condition, or even lead our body to serious damage.

The first way to get rid of annoying pain caused by pressure differences in the middle ear is the Valsalva test (named after its creator Antonio Mario Valsalva). It consists in testing the patency of the auditory trumpet. During the test, air is blown out of the lungs through the nose while the mouth and nose wings are closed. In addition to diving, this manoeuvre can be useful in aeroplanes, express lifts, and even when travelling by car over terrain that varies greatly in altitude.

As another way of doing this, we can try a manoeuvre developed by Joseph Toynbee. It consists in plugging the nose with the fingers and swallowing saliva. The throat muscles open the Eustachian tube, while the tongue sticking to our palate compresses the air, which causes the pressure to equalize. The method is effective both underwater and on the surface.

We can also try to combine the above methods and, while blocking the nose, simultaneously blow and swallow saliva. This is called the Lowrey manoeuvre.

The fourth technique is the Frenzel manoeuvre (authored by Herman Frenzel a former German pilot). It consists in closing the vocal cords. While blowing out air, we press the back of the tongue against the palate, as if we wanted to pronounce the letter “K”. This activates the Adam’s apple, which will rise. This method is often the last non-invasive resort and proves to be more effective than the previously mentioned methods.

If all the methods given so far have failed, it may turn out that the problem lies on the side of our nasal septum and a surgical procedure will be necessary to remove the cause.

The most important thing is not to rush during the dive and try to solve the problem calmly. Necessarily consult your ailment with a doctor who has experience in treating divers. Such a specialist guarantees the right approach to the problem and a better understanding of its essence.

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