This site is one of the few sources on the internet with ear injury stories that mirror my own. I didn't join this forum just to talk about ears, but I thought I would share my story for the next guy who is scouring the internet for answers.
Only an ENT or Otologist (better, but harder to find) can tell you how you hurt your ears. Loosing hearing and having a persistent rining sound for several days is scary, especially if you just Google the issue and wait it out. My advice to anyone who experiences hearing loss or ringing after a dive go straight to an ENT or Otologist or call DAN. The worst thing you can do is wait. I realize that not everyone has health insurance or quick access to a good ENT, but if you do don't wait. If an ENT determines that you have sudden significant sensorineural hearing loss, that is not associated with middle ear trauma, you should ask the ENT about a high dose of oral steroids.
I'm new to this forum, but I grew up in South FL and I am no stranger to the ocean. I got into freediving about 6 months ago. I have been doing hookah scuba diving off my kayak in 18-30' of water for a few years. Freediving requires less gear and once I got used to it, it became more relaxing than scuba. It's safer than scuba in some ways, but there is still the same potential to hurt your ears.
I have allergies and slow opening estachean tubes and I got used to managing alternobaric vertigo while on Scuba. I probably should have taken the vertigo as a sign that I might one day sustain a lasting injury. I did not. I only had one day where freediving caused vertigo and the day I injured my right inner ear I felt no pain. I was starting to feel my estachean tubes tighten up towards the end of the day. Equalizing was getting slightly more difficult but nothing alarming and no forceful clearing. When I finished for the day I noticed that my right ear was muffled and I heard ringing. Sitting on my kayak I tried to do a surface clear (not a good idea in retrospect), but the ringing and fullness remained two days later and on Monday I saw an ENT. I had a hearing test. I had lost 6k and 8k down to 65db and 70db in my right ear. Left ear is normal.
The ENT suspected inner ear damage caused by a barotrauma (pressure induced shockwave). He referred me to a specialist, an Otologist. The Otolist confirmed my hearing loss and ordered tests that induce vertigo to see if I had round window or oval window damage (you may need to do some Googling). I did not seem to have any vestibular system (balance) issues. He prescribed a high dose of oral steroids; prednisone taper: 60mg for 5 days, 40mg for five days and 20mg for 5 days.
I regret getting the steroids from the Otologist 6 days after the incident when I was at the ENT just two days after the incident. I was not informed enough to ask. Research suggests the sooner the better. Having said that, if you get treated in the first couple of weeks your odds of recovery are pretty good depending on a lot of factors and the extent of damage. Please note...Im talking about inner ear barotrauma, not the more common and often less serious middle ear barotrauma. If you have a middle ear issue your chance for a full recovery is good. Again, not an ENT so ask an ENT.
I'm typing this on my phone so there may be sometypos. My thumbs are also falling asleep so time to wrap this up...
Flash forward to now and it has been almost 5 weeks with no improvement. I have read many positive recovery stories on this forum and other forums so don't be discouraged by this post. If you are showing gradual improvement in the first few weeks that is a really positive sign.
I am still holding out faint hope that my hearing and the tinitus (ringing) will improve, but maybe I was just one of the unlucky few. My hearing loss and tinnitus are not debilitating, but I do notice it everyday and it has been life changing. I may not return to diving if there is no improvement.
I'm not a physician, so please read this post not as medical advice, but as another data point on your quest to learn about your own injury or ear injuries associated with diving in general.
I do think more research is needed. I was cleared to dive by two different ENTs before this occurred.
Only an ENT or Otologist (better, but harder to find) can tell you how you hurt your ears. Loosing hearing and having a persistent rining sound for several days is scary, especially if you just Google the issue and wait it out. My advice to anyone who experiences hearing loss or ringing after a dive go straight to an ENT or Otologist or call DAN. The worst thing you can do is wait. I realize that not everyone has health insurance or quick access to a good ENT, but if you do don't wait. If an ENT determines that you have sudden significant sensorineural hearing loss, that is not associated with middle ear trauma, you should ask the ENT about a high dose of oral steroids.
I'm new to this forum, but I grew up in South FL and I am no stranger to the ocean. I got into freediving about 6 months ago. I have been doing hookah scuba diving off my kayak in 18-30' of water for a few years. Freediving requires less gear and once I got used to it, it became more relaxing than scuba. It's safer than scuba in some ways, but there is still the same potential to hurt your ears.
I have allergies and slow opening estachean tubes and I got used to managing alternobaric vertigo while on Scuba. I probably should have taken the vertigo as a sign that I might one day sustain a lasting injury. I did not. I only had one day where freediving caused vertigo and the day I injured my right inner ear I felt no pain. I was starting to feel my estachean tubes tighten up towards the end of the day. Equalizing was getting slightly more difficult but nothing alarming and no forceful clearing. When I finished for the day I noticed that my right ear was muffled and I heard ringing. Sitting on my kayak I tried to do a surface clear (not a good idea in retrospect), but the ringing and fullness remained two days later and on Monday I saw an ENT. I had a hearing test. I had lost 6k and 8k down to 65db and 70db in my right ear. Left ear is normal.
The ENT suspected inner ear damage caused by a barotrauma (pressure induced shockwave). He referred me to a specialist, an Otologist. The Otolist confirmed my hearing loss and ordered tests that induce vertigo to see if I had round window or oval window damage (you may need to do some Googling). I did not seem to have any vestibular system (balance) issues. He prescribed a high dose of oral steroids; prednisone taper: 60mg for 5 days, 40mg for five days and 20mg for 5 days.
I regret getting the steroids from the Otologist 6 days after the incident when I was at the ENT just two days after the incident. I was not informed enough to ask. Research suggests the sooner the better. Having said that, if you get treated in the first couple of weeks your odds of recovery are pretty good depending on a lot of factors and the extent of damage. Please note...Im talking about inner ear barotrauma, not the more common and often less serious middle ear barotrauma. If you have a middle ear issue your chance for a full recovery is good. Again, not an ENT so ask an ENT.
I'm typing this on my phone so there may be sometypos. My thumbs are also falling asleep so time to wrap this up...
Flash forward to now and it has been almost 5 weeks with no improvement. I have read many positive recovery stories on this forum and other forums so don't be discouraged by this post. If you are showing gradual improvement in the first few weeks that is a really positive sign.
I am still holding out faint hope that my hearing and the tinitus (ringing) will improve, but maybe I was just one of the unlucky few. My hearing loss and tinnitus are not debilitating, but I do notice it everyday and it has been life changing. I may not return to diving if there is no improvement.
I'm not a physician, so please read this post not as medical advice, but as another data point on your quest to learn about your own injury or ear injuries associated with diving in general.
I do think more research is needed. I was cleared to dive by two different ENTs before this occurred.
