Open eardrum - what type of earplug that completely seals?

[wdaf]

Hello,

Problem: A local freediver (Filipino) age 24, has one broken eardrum (diagnosed by an ENT) since the age of 6. It never healed back. He is diving frequently, gets always water in the middle ear and has often middle ear infections. He tried the Pro Ear divemask (ear cups that keep the ear dry) but it does not work good for freediving.

I want him to try ear plugs that totally block any water from going into the middle ear, and that allow him to equalize the middle ear. Since half the eardrum is missing there should be no problem with using earplugs.

What kind of ear plugs you can recommend that are very tight?

Cheers,
Wolfgang

 

[manosrofos]

my friend , docs make proplugs vented that they can work for freediving.The water must pass and help to equalize.Also they make non vented for swimming ONLY...NEVER use for freediving.I think you must go to a doctor for sewing the eardtum, if it is possible.Dont do anything unless you visit doctor.

 

[podenco]

Hello, I think the same as you, if you find a plug that can seal the middle ear, I think that the problem is solved (considering that his eardrum is broken), even I watched a documentary of the Ama divers of Japan, where one woman said that she used to put clay inside her ear for diving since she broke her eardrum.
The thing is to find the correct material for make the earplug I hope that someone here can help you, anyway I have listened from several freedivers using the pro ear mask without problems.
Luck!

 

[baiyoke]

manosrofos I think you need to read the problem again.

wdaf I don't know much about the ears, but here are some thoughts: My guess is that a normal swimming earplug with three or four seperate walls would be fine. However he would probably have to master the equalization well, so that it doesn't get sucked in more and more for every dive, if equalizing late... This model actually have kind of a stop-plate, that might prevent that:

Also the earplug might pop out if doing valsalva I think (but might not)... A fine-tuned frentzel would probably be best.

One thing though: If eardrum doesn't flex, he might not get the same feedback to know the pressure aplied and if the equalization was succesfull or not... But I guess other parts of the ear will soon tell him... But I think he should focus on that feedback a lot, otherwise he might burst a bloodvessel, because of mistakenly skipping equalization... but I guess he will still get the "click" sound from eustacian tubes... Best would be doing many constant "mouthfills" even in shallow water, and keep the eust. tubes open... How deep does he go?

Another concern would be how his ear would like to have the earplug inserted... Because it might irritate it for some reason because he's prone to infections, and ears are not made for that (hair and wax problems)... should be kept clean, perhaps disinfected right before insertion..... Probably a good idea to ask a doctors opinion...

Just some quick thoughts...

 

[wdaf]

THX bayoke.
Very good advice.

I tried soft foam earplugs that have a line attached and they worked for him.
He just has to get used to the feeling.
No problem with equalizing or being pushed into the middle ear.

I also got advice about Surfplugs from the UK.

Problem is that i/the patient(s) live in the Philippines -a country where it is hard to access and/or afford things from abroad for poor people like many of the fisherman are.

Also the problem of burst eardrums is actually very wide spread under Filipino fisherman.
It is even somehow part of the culture (especially the Bajau people) to intentionally burst your eardrum when you are young.
Then you don't have any more problems equalizing later in life.
Except you get frequent middle ear infections and become partially deaf.
:-(

This is why i would prefer a solution that is locally available.

Clay sounds good.
Marine Epoxy is also very good available everywhere.

My questions:
- Which material is better? soft Clay or hardened Marine epoxy? (of course not hardened while in the ear)
- How would you make fabricate these?
- How could one make the fitting process by yourself?
- Is a line attached to the earplug or some kind of a stopper really needed?

And yes ... I know proper equalization would prevent this, but it is even anchored in their culture.
So my first goal is to find a fix for the already burst eardrums and then maybe some initiatives to teach them equlization and change their culture.

Cheers,
Wolfgang