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ear maintainance...

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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Memo

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2003
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Hi guys,

We all know we have to protect our ears as they are one the most valueable assets of our body.

My dad is a spearo who finished his 45th year in the business and he almost lost 35% of his hearing capacity! I dont wanna be deaf after long years or dont wanna quit diving just because I didnt care my ears at the past.

so lets list the ways to protect our ears!

here are the ones I always do..

- dont ever push a little without equalizing
- if you feel pain don push further
- cover them from wind and cold
 
Hi Memo;

i am 29 ,,,, and just found out that i lost 45% of hearing in both ears, my dad was a spearo as well and he has lost 55% in both ears.

We both have been to ear specialists, and found out that the lost hearing is actually confined to high frequencies only.

We also determined that its a genetics issue and that i have actually inheritted it.

The other interesting thing is that there is such a large number of people out there that actually have similar problems - the only thing is that they dont know it since they have had it from birth and have adapted well.

The techniques that you have already mentioned should be sufficient. the doctors told me the same thing.

As long as you dont push your self and equalise frequently, your ears should be fine.

Regards

Nesim
 
Nesim, I am an ex-shooter so the hear loss is not also unfamiliar to me :( I read and article last week about the long term effects of valsalva equlisation and apperantly, it causes hear loss aswell!
 
my 60 years old dive partner had serios hearing problems becasue of the 45 years long spearfishing.
 
Hi Murat - Memo;

I am sure there would be some hearing loss from extended free diving to deapths over 10 m. after all, we are only humans.

Did you know that the average Human dives to a deapth of less than 3 m, and can hold his breath no longer than 25sec.

I must have started loosing my hearing when i was still in my mothers womb :D
 
but we are here coz we are not average person:cool: i think every fellow here is above the average person, may be little or very further above;)
 
yeah so what do everyone use for sinus problems? I had one last week and seriously forced me to quit session! I could equalise but the pain was hitting to my ear.... :( I found no way but to quit session...
 
Claritin and other drug cocktails at least 3 days in advance. you will be pissing claritin but have no sinus probs.
 
Originally posted by mishu1984
Claritin and other drug cocktails at least 3 days in advance. you will be pissing claritin but have no sinus probs.

Interesting. Why so far in advance? Doesn't it just wear off and leave the body?
 
I'm quite paranoid about my ears! after every dive I put ear drying drops which you can find in pharmacies ( they are usually used by swimmers) and I try to avoid air condition, wind and cold close after getting out of the water!
 
I use equal parts of distilled white vinager,isopropyl alcohol and
hydrogen peroxide.I read about some divers using it as a ear flush after dives.I just try to dry any excess water in my ear.I had 2 inner ear infections back to back and my docter told me that they were caused by water in my sinuses and that unless damaged the membrain that seperates the inner and outer ear would not let any thing thru it .The best thing for me is if I fill any pain or have trouble equalizing just stop because if I continue to
push it i'll just make it worst.
 
I wonder if vented earplugs would help protect your ears. Has anyone ever used Doc's vented earplugs when freediving? Does it help you equalize your ears or dive deeper?
 
tired ears anyone?

AJ, I am now using the same mix you do, and I need to use it after every dive. I get swimmers ear very frequently, but that stuff helps.

Also, I have found that after several hours of diving, it is sometimes harder for me to clear my ears...almost as if they are getting tired and sore, like a muscle after working out. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I just a frrrrreak? :D
 
Originally posted by Roan
Interesting. Why so far in advance? Doesn't it just wear off and leave the body?

no. there is a missunderstanding: you strat taking clartin or any other similar drug on a daily basis 3 days before your planed dive. its not something really smart to do, but say for example you booked a vacation to conzumel, it would totally suck if you had some sudden sinus probs. this way you avoid that. kind of like a preemtive strike
 
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I think the reason your ears get harder to clear after some time in the water is because your sinus's block up w/ mucus..since you breath out of your mouth instead of your nose the whole time...


AJ how's the water clarity inshore in Jax...shoot me an email as we may take a day trip soon...
 
I had my hearing checked as part of the safety/drug testing for my current job. I had a significant lost of high frequency hearing as well, but this was about two years before I started freediving. I grewup around outdoor equipment (mowers, trimmers, backhoes) plus raced two-stroke motorcycles in my teens.

I would like to know if high frequency loss has anything to do with the stress on the ear drum from diving. I don’t think it does, but would like to know. I know high frequency excess noise is usually the cause for non-divers.

Another thing that a diver brought to my attention is the wind noise from the boat ride is of a high frequency and is very loud. We generally cruise in the low 30 knot range with long 2+ hour boat rides. I keep meaning to put some ear plugs or head phones in the boat.

Surfers ear, a progressive buildup of bone within the ear canal, is another common problem. I remember both Kirk and Martin at the PFD clinic said they had it. It is mostly caused by cooling from evaporation of the water in the outer ear. Wind and/or cold water contribute to it. I believe you can have surgery to remove it. Those Doc ear plugs that allow a smaller amount of water movement so the water stays warmer and he wind doesn’t get it are suppose to help prevent it.
don
 
Well, another reason to let as little as possible pressure to build up during dives.
Maybe it stretches the ear drum...
 
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