Ears and Air Travel - Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

How Does Traveling in Airplanes Affect The Ears?

When a person travels in an airplane, there is an altitude difference with which there will be a pressure difference between the surrounding air and the air inside the ear. These pressure differences can lead to certain problems in the ear. This can even happen while driving up a mountain or in any circumstances that can cause an air pressure difference. The condition caused while traveling in an airplane is known as the airplane ear.

What Is Airplane Ear?

The airplane ear, also known as ear barotrauma, barotitis media, or aerotitis media, is the stress of the eardrum that occurs when the air pressure in the environment and the air pressure in the middle ear are not balanced. In normal conditions, the pressure in the middle ear equals the atmospheric pressure. But when the plane is in its descent or while taking off, the rapid change in altitude results in a change in the air pressure in the cabin.

One may feel a blockage or pressure in the ear, which usually goes away once the airplane is landed. However, in some cases, the symptoms can persist beyond that. Self-care tips such as yawning or chewing gums can help to overcome the symptoms of this condition. However, when the symptoms are severe consult a doctor.

What Are the Symptoms of Airplane Ear?

The airplane can affect one or both ears. The symptoms seen in airplane ears are:

• Discomfort or pain in the ear.

• Feeling of blockage or stuffiness in the ear.

• Muffled hearing.

• Moderate hearing loss.

If an individual has severe airplane ear, then the following symptoms can be seen:

• Severe ear pain.

• Increased ear pressure.

• Severe hearing loss.

• Tinnitus (constant ringing or buzzing sound in the ear).

• Vertigo (feeling that the surrounding is spinning).

• Bleeding from the ear.

How Does a Person Get Airplane Ear?

The tube which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat is called the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube opens and closes when we swallow or yawn, which will help to regularize the air pressure within the middle ear and the surrounding environment. So when there is a change in air pressure rapidly, then the air behind the eardrum will be either less or more than in the environment. This can even affect the sound vibrating through the eardrums well as the hearing bones. So when the airplane takes off or lands, the air pressure difference will result in pressure on the eardrum either from the inside or from the outside, and the person will have pain or discomfort. Also, hearing can be affected.

How Is Airplane Ear Diagnosed?

These conditions usually get back to normal once the person comes back to the land, and medical intervention is not needed in most cases. However, consult a healthcare provider if the symptoms persist and do not subside. The doctor will examine the ears and may do a hearing test (audiometry) or measure the eardrum pressure (tympanometry).

What Can Be Done to Relieve Symptoms of Airplane Ear?

One can follow these things in order to help ease the symptoms of airplane ear:

• Stay Awake - Do not sleep at the time of take-off or landing of the airplane. This will keep the passenger aware of the changes and react to the same. An individual can divert by listening to music, talking to fellow passengers, or relatives traveling together.

• Swallow or Yawn - Try swallowing or yawning when a person starts to experience discomfort. This will help the eustachian tube to open. When the eustachian tube is open, it will help to regularize the pressure difference. For babies, feeding them or giving them a pacifier at the time of take-off and descent will help to ease out the airplane ear as they will be swallowing.

• Blowing Nose - Blow the nose gently to alleviate the pressure.

• Blowing Air Through the Nose - Keeping the mouth closed and nose pinched, and blow out air. This will help more air to pass into the eustachian tube.

• Decongestants - Take decongestants if suffering from nasal congestion from cold or allergies.

• Ear Plugs - This will help to regulate pressure within the ears.

• Chewing Gums - Chewing gums will help to open up the eustachian tube and help to regularize the pressure.

• Reconsider the Travel Plans - Postpone the travel plan when there is a cold, sinus infection, nasal congestion, or ear infection, if possible.

What Are the Complications Associated With Airplane Ear?

The airplane ear is usually not associated with any complication, but in rare instances can cause complications like a ruptured eardrum, where the patient will have a sudden event that goes away suddenly. The perforated eardrum heals on its own and does not require medical attention. However, seek medical help if an individual experiences the following symptoms with a perforated eardrum:

• Hearing loss.

• Tinnitus (ringing sound in the ear).

• Discharge from the ears.

• Vertigo (a feeling of surrounding spinning).

What Are the Risk Factors?

The conditions that can block the eustachian tube or affect its functioning can be a risk factor. The common risks are:

• Small eustachian tubes like in infants and toddlers.

• Common cold.

• Sinusitis.

• Allergic rhinitis.

• Middle ear infections.

Conclusion

Flying in an airplane can cause some trouble to the ear, which will be corrected once the person gets back to land. There is no need to be worried about this condition. This is very commonly seen in anyone who travels via airways, but the intensity of the symptoms might vary from person to person; for some, the symptoms will be unnoticeable, while for some, it can be irritating. There are several ways in order to prevent as well as manage the symptoms, which will help the persons traveling via airplane. Staying awake, using earplugs, chewing gums, and consuming decongestants are some of the options that will help in relieving the pain.