Saw this and thought it may be worthwhile posting for those wanting to dive but are wondering about "clearing their ears":
Source:Docs Diving Home Page
Ear Fear is a term I have coined to describe the apprehension associated with middle ear equalization. It tends to occur in individuals who have had prior middle ear trauma, a frequent childhood history of middle ear infections or those who just get queasy when they feel new bodily sensations. To some, this sensation of pressure in the middle ears and the crackling in one's head associated with the popping open of a Eustachian tube is uncomfortable.
These are the individuals who do not like to "pop" their ears and many have been told all their life that this is "bad to do". For these individuals, middle ear pressurization effort is anxiety provoking and efforts tend to be very cautious and tentative. For many of these novice divers, middle ear trauma occurs at the first dive. Students can become confused about the actual pressure needed to achieve middle ear equalization when well meaning friends remind them not to blow too hard. This advice is certainly prudent when a student is under water and experiencing middle ear squeeze. Unfortunately, for the squeamish individual, and especially if a marginally patent Eustachian tube is present, this limits the ability of some to pressurize adequately at anytime during the dive. Pressurization of the middle ear can and should be vigorous on the surface, when no negative pressure gradient is present across the middle ear. This means that it is possible (and desirable) for an individual to pre-pressurize the middle ear and to inflate the Eustachian tube prior to descent.
Pressurization of the middle ear provides a pillow of air behind the tympanic membrane, protecting the "ear drum" (TM) from barotrauma." As descent occurs, more air can easily enter an inflated Eustachian tube and pass into the middle ear, if pressurization begins early in the dive. If the Eustachian tube is allowed to collapse at any time during descent due to squeeze, the pressure to re-inflate it becomes greater. For this reason, I always recommend that individuals practice pressurization of their middle ears prior to diving in order to test their Eustachian tubes for patency, and to perform middle ear pressurization before beginning actual descent to cushion the ears against trauma..
Source:Docs Diving Home Page
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