Ear block

[albarlow]

This is kind of difficult to explain but I occasionally get a problem after I dive where after I am diving my ears (one more than the other) seem to get a bit blocked. It kind of suppresses my hearing a bit but if I blow through my nose like if I were equalising then I can hear the sound, perhaps, of something moving in my ear... its like the noise I smotimes get when I equalise). Is this normal? It may just be I get water in my ear or somthing but I don't know, to be honest.

[Ron Evans]

This is kind of difficult to explain but I occasionally get a problem after I dive where after I am diving my ears (one more than the other) seem to get a bit blocked. It kind of suppresses my hearing a bit but if I blow through my nose like if I were equalising then I can hear the sound, perhaps, of something moving in my ear... its like the noise I smotimes get when I equalise). Is this normal? It may just be I get water in my ear or somthing but I don't know, to be honest.

Typically, this would be "otitic barotrauma", which is what happens early in your diving career if you are not brilliant at clearing your ears, but decide to carry on anyway despite the soreness. Basically, the middle ear gets a little bloody fluid in it, and that will dim your hearing for several days. As you get better, you will (a) get better at clearing your ears; and (b) learn NOT to go past the depth where your ears are comfortable.

Does this fit with what is going on with your diving?

Cheers,

[Andy Wade]

This is kind of difficult to explain but I occasionally get a problem after I dive where after I am diving my ears (one more than the other) seem to get a bit blocked. It kind of suppresses my hearing a bit but if I blow through my nose like if I were equalising then I can hear the sound, perhaps, of something moving in my ear... its like the noise I smotimes get when I equalise). Is this normal? It may just be I get water in my ear or somthing but I don't know, to be honest.

As Ron has said this could be damaging to your ears.
You need to take the untmost care with your ears as they are very susceptible to the elements and diving pressures. I'm sure your instructor will have explained this but they very likely only told you the Valsalva Manoeuvre.
There are several ways to clear your ears and it may be helpful to try a few methods in the pool before settling on the one that works best for you.
'Knowldege is Power' and being familiar with more than just one of the methods gives you more options.
They are listed here:

BSAC Wiki - Ear Clearing Methods (http://bsacforum.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Ear_Clearing_Methods)

Take your time and be gentle, it may also be worth waiting until your ears feel better after your current problems before trying these methods, we don't want to make them worse.

[Nigel Hewitt]

This is kind of difficult to explain but I occasionally get a problem after I dive where after I am diving my ears (one more than the other) seem to get a bit blocked.I get that a bit. I always put it down to 'off gassing' into the because a good yawn to a jawpush ear clear releaves it.

[albarlow]

Thanks for the advice, in answer to you, Ron, that does sound about right. I try not to descend faster than my ears will adjust, though sometimes I do have trouble clearing. I do find that the 'hold your nose and blow' method has never worked for me under water, though swallowing tends to do the trick. Does ascending too quickly contribute, because I can always feel in my ears when I ascend faster than I should, which helps me know to slow down, does that have any impact, or would that be unrelated?

Thanks again

[Ron Evans]

Al,

Hold your nose, blow and swallow, the swallow isn't optional.

Andy has some very good stuff. What works for me is to start equalising as soon as my head is under, so that I am ahead on the equalising, and taking the first ten metres or so really slowly, and if even a suggestion of ear problem, stopping at whatever depth until equalised. I think fear has something to do with it, because its much harder to equalise with a dry mouth (it makes the swallow part hard). Take your time, go gently, and try Andy's different ways to find what works for YOU.
Good luck!

[theo1951]

By ear blocks moost of the time slime is the problem inside.
We use homoeopathy for this problem al many years and we never had problems.

[Dot]

I am a trainee diver that has had some ear problems.It took me a few dives to find the bet way for me to equalise ,which was to take it slow and look towards surface when doing it.
A really good help though was Aloe gold eardrops from Highernature.co.uk which help with keeping ears free from infections and excess ear wax!!

[LilJanine]

I got the same problem every once in a while but it totally depends on the situation and I don't know why.

[jayhilalen]

I know I'm replying to this a few years after the original post, but I too am currently experiencing the exact same problems with my ears as described in al's message. It's reassuring to know other people have had this but I would like advice as to how to clear my ears as a week has passed and I am still experiencing hearing problems.

I can hear my own voice louder than anything else and my heart beat. I can hold my nose and blow or sniff and I can hear the air/water/blockage, whatever it is that's in there, moving around and it's temporarily better, not normal, but my own voice isn't so loud, but all I have to do is yawn or swallow and it goes back again. It doesn't appear to be getting any better as time goes by.

Thanks.

[PeteM]

Go and see your doctor. It sounds like you have an ear infection but it could be more serious

[Ron MacRae]

Go and see your doctor. It sounds like you have an ear infection but it could be more serious

What he said

[andyevans1981]

I know I'm replying to this a few years after the original post, but I too am currently experiencing the exact same problems with my ears as described in al's message. It's reassuring to know other people have had this but I would like advice as to how to clear my ears as a week has passed and I am still experiencing hearing problems.

I can hear my own voice louder than anything else and my heart beat. I can hold my nose and blow or sniff and I can hear the air/water/blockage, whatever it is that's in there, moving around and it's temporarily better, not normal, but my own voice isn't so loud, but all I have to do is yawn or swallow and it goes back again. It doesn't appear to be getting any better as time goes by.

Thanks.
Could be a large build up of ear wax and the water is trapped underneath. I use ear drop once a week to keep my ears clear and it works a treat as I suffered a similar sort of problem when i first started diving.

[Ron Evans]

Otitic barotrauma, of the usual severity, will usually take ten days to a fortnight to settle.

How is it doing now?