Ear sounds

[divedeeper]

Hi guys, yet another guy here with ear problems. Beforehand, Ive contacted the ENT but the closest date i could get for him is 2 weeks from now, so any help is appreciated,

So about 2 years ago, I faced an ear infection. I dont think it was that severe, it was caused by more and more exposure to pool water. So about a week after i recovered, I noticed something wrong inside the ear. Whenever I swallowed or yawned, or moved my jaw in a maneuver to push air out of the ears, I would hear like this pop/crackling sound in my ears. I asked a few friends and they said they could hear this too. Is it normal? Will it affect equalization?

Also, I just recently recovered from yet another ear infection, and after a dive session I sort of felt like some water was trapped in my ear. I tried equalizing, and I heard like an eeeeeee sound. I usually hear it right after 2 or 3 dives, doesnt matter if in the pool, shower or ocean. The eee sounds usually go away the next day, but if i use Swimmers Ear, it clears it out alot faster. Could this be due to the recent recovery from the ear infection?

Note: Ive always been exposed to water, so its not the recent overexposure to water that could cause this sound.


Thank you

 

[Simos]

Pop/crackling sound is normal, it's actually your e-tubes opening so it's a good thing for EQ...

Not sure what the eeeeeeeee sound is - I can't imagine it.. But I have a feeling (based on not much) that if you take decongestants it will go in a few days. I am no doc so best wait for ENT...
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[Siku]

If you've damaged your ears (exposure to very loud noises, infections etc) it can affect ear sensitivity, knocking out specific frequencies. Those high pitches are the ones that your ear isn't sensitive to any more and they ring as the ear is recovering.

It could also be tinnitus i.e. phantom noises. This is caused by ear damage but aggravated by tiredness, stress, etc.. There doesn't seem to be an consensus on whether its a physical or psychological problem - I believe it the interface between the inner ear and brain/mind.

Both these issues are very common and hopefully if you look after your ears they will go away quickly. Has it cleared up at all?

This is just anecdotal stuff I've picked up as my girlfriend has tinnitus and I have a history of ear trouble - obviously consult a specialist!

 

[divedeeper]

If you've damaged your ears (exposure to very loud noises, infections etc) it can affect ear sensitivity, knocking out specific frequencies. Those high pitches are the ones that your ear isn't sensitive to any more and they ring as the ear is recovering.

That actually makes alot of sense, Siku. I certainly hope its a temporary effect while my ear recovers.

And actually yes, the weird eee sound has cleared up. I only heard it once yesterday while equalizing at about 6ft but after that, I heard it no more. Hopefully its gone forever. Thank you for your concern!

 

[Simos]

After all this you are still diving? Lol

I have mild tinitus btw, it's permanent in my case and I am sure it's due to exposure to loud noises... Only annoying at times at night when it's quiet.. It's a bit harder to hear some frequencies when they are similar to the ringing..
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[divedeeper]

After all this you are still diving? Lol

I was just messing around the pool for a bit; cant seem to stay away from the water. Im sorry about the tinnitus. I'm pretty sure i dont have it though; I only heard the sound while equalizing.

On another note: I've seen alot of threads and it seems many divers suffer from tinnitus. Could tinnitus be caused by equalizing when it is not necessary? Or maybe diving too fast without equalizing enough?

 

[Simos]

No idea - mine was caused by spending too much time in front of an awesome guitar amp, in night clubs with really loud music and firing guns lol
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[divedeeper]

The way you talk about it, it seems like you don't regret it.

 

[glubglub]

You're lucky your eeeeee sound clears out the next day. When I had reverse block it lasted 4 months! So eeeee sound is definitely not normal and I think it means you are not equalizing (whether while going down or surfacing) correctly...

 

[divedeeper]

Hi glubglub, thanks for the reply. Sorry but equalizing while surfacing? You mean equalizing on the surface before descending right? Not equalizing while ascending?

 

[glubglub]

I'm sorry for the confusing terms. But you read it right, ear equalizing happens either when you descend or ascend, but you only equalize actively when you are descending.

Equalizing simply means making the eardrum pressure from the outside to equal the eardrum pressure from the inside. While descending, you try to put air into your middle ear. A block is a condition where you cannot open your ET to put air in your inner ear. If you have this problem, your eardrum could burst inward from the outside pressure.

While ascending you also need to get this air you put in previously back out from your middle ear through ET. If your ET is somehow shut, the air would push out your eardrum, and it could rupture outward if the air is not let out properly. That condition is called reverse block. Maybe you have some sticky mucus from allergies or you clench your jaw at certain position making it hard for ET to open up and let the air out.

That's when I had eeeeee sound for 4 months. Doc found my eardrum bulged outward, but no rupture. Subsequently, I found slowing down on the last 2-3m during ascent and tilt my head slightly back reduces that possibility (still happens very rarely but never as severe as last time I had it). Everyone is different; as a rule I follow, if I hear crack/popping sound equalizing while descending, I should hear crack/popping sound while ascending (or at least on the surface).