Ear equalisation techniques.

[john bache]

Hi, I was just wondering what everyone's favourite ear clearing techniques were, & why they chose them ?

Thanks,

John.

[david lisk]

I think it depends on the individual and their condition at the time of the dive and that of their Eustachian tubes. I have found on most of my dives simply breathing out through my nose to equalise the pressure in my mask during decent is enought to clear my ears. On other occasions I have had to hold my nose and gently blow. You can also move your jaw from side to side, swallow and some can 'click' their ears at will.

The most important point is to clear the ears as soon as you go below the surface and keep clearing continually all the way down.

Use what works at the time and if it does not ascend and try again.


Hi, I was just wondering what everyone's favourite ear clearing techniques were, & why they chose them ?

Thanks,

John.

[Dominic Humphries]

Hi, I was just wondering what everyone's favourite ear clearing techniques were, & why they chose them ?

Swallowing, as it's hands-free

[Nigel Hewitt]

Hi, I was just wondering what everyone's favourite ear clearing techniques were, & why they chose them ?

An instructor at the weekend threw in in passing that there were seven ways to equalise. I tend to use the nose pinch because that always works. I can do the 'jaw push to get the yawn effect' but it takes time to get it right and finning down with the shot sliding through one hand I want to keep equalised. I wondered what the other five were.

nigelH

[Andy Wade]

:=Hi, I was just wondering what everyone's favourite ear clearing techniques were, & why they chose them ?

An instructor at the weekend threw in in passing that there were seven ways to equalise. I tend to use the nose pinch because that always works. I can do the 'jaw push to get the yawn effect' but it takes time to get it right and finning down with the shot sliding through one hand I want to keep equalised. I wondered what the other five were.

nigelH


Hello Nigel,
There seem to be actually 8 methods in all.
I've done a bit of a search through my notes and several other sources and come up with a list which I've put on the Dive Instruct website (link below)
They seem to be different from one another, and I've just spent a bit of time trying to do them all too, with varying degrees of success!
:-)
I'd also welcome any tips that people have, I will be adding about the diver being upright if possible, plus that smoking and alcohol can cause tissue swelling in the mucous membranes which can affect ear clearing.

[Philip Smith]

There seem to be actually 8 methods in all.
I've done a bit of a search through my notes and several other sources and come up with a list which I've put on the Dive Instruct website (link below)
They seem to be different from one another, and I've just spent a bit of time trying to do them all too, with varying degrees of success!

My method seems to be closest to number 7 on your list, but I don't push my jaw down. I think I tense the muscles of my soft palate, pulling it down slightly at the sides and push the back of my tongue up and back, which pushes some air into the tubes.

Philip

[Nigel Kelleher]

Another method is the "Marcante-Odaglie" where the tongue is pressed against the top palate, then air is forced through the tubes.
It is not too unlike the "Voluntary Clearing" one in your list Andy.

One bit of advice though! One can easily rupture an eardrum using this method - no, not on the descent, but if one were to push off the bottom - say when doing a rescue lift - it is a natural way to give yourself that extra oomph! You automatically put your tongue to the roof of your mouth, then while pushing, you rise as pressure falls.

No flaming please about buoyant lifts. I use the above as illustration only.

Cheers,

Nigel