Need suggestions for "popping" ears

[VogelFamily]

We are infrequent fliers and during our flight last year my DS7, had horrible time with pain in his ears during the pressure changes. Of course, we tried the chewing gum but no help and the tears flowed. I was so helpless. We are flying again next month and I would be grateful for any suggestions..........heather

 

[TyGuy]

I'm a scuba diver and the process we use to clear our ears when diving is to hold your nose, tilt your head back slightly and then try to blow out your nose. Don't blow real hard but it should help your ears "pop" and releave the pressure. It's called the Valsalva method below.

Here are a couple other methods from a diving website that might work as well.

Valsalva
How to do it: Everyone knows it; but many people still don't do it quite right. Pinch your nose and gently blow air up through your throat and into the eustachian tubes. The trick is to blow with the right amount of pressure-but not too much, because you can damage the inner ear. You want to blow as hard as you would if you were inflating a large balloon. Blow no longer than two seconds at a stretch.

What it does: Actively opens the eustachian tubes with an increase in air pressure.


Voluntary tubal opening
How to do it: Contract the muscles in your soft palate (the back of the roof of your mouth) and throat while pushing your jaw forward and down. It should feel like yawning with your mouth closed, like you might do when trying to be polite during a boring conversation.

What it does: Tensing and stretching the muscles pull the eustachian tubes open. Some divers get good enough at this technique to hold their tubes open for continuous equalization.


Toynbee
How to do it: Pinch your nose and swallow at the same time.

What it does: Swallowing tenses the muscles in the throat and soft palate to pull the tubes open, while your tongue compresses air against them. This is considered one of the most natural ways to equalize.


Frenzel
How to do it: Hold your nose and forcefully press your tongue against the back of your throat while making a "K" or "ng" sound.

What it does: Contracts the throat muscles to open the tubes while compressing air against them with the tongue.


Lowry
How to do it: Combine Valsalva and Toynbee: Pinch your nose and then blow against your closed nose while swallowing at the same time. It's tricky to do with a regulator in your mouth. But it can help you feel how the muscles you use to clear work.

What it does: Pulls open the tubes while forcing air into them to ensure they get open and stay open.


Edmonds
How to do it: Contract the muscles in your throat and soft palate while jutting your lower jaw forward. For a stronger effect, combine Edmonds with Valsalva.

What it does: Stretches the muscles surrounding the eustachian tubes to help pull the tubes open.

 

[grimley1968]

Well, I was going to suggest gum-chewing, but you tried that. Seriously, though, it can be effective if you're doing it from the time before you get on the plane all the way up through the time you're climbing to altitude.

But really the best thing you can do is frequent swallowing. I fly a lot (I'm a private pilot) at anywhere from 3500 feet MSL to about 8000 feet MSL, and this is prime ear-popping altitude, and swallowing really helps me out. I think gum-chewing mainly is an unconscious way to force you to swallow often. But merely remembering to swallow often does the same thing. Also, when you swallow, try to do it with an open mouth to equalize sinus pressure even more. Then do it with a closed mouth, then open, and on and on.

Some people will hold their nose shut while blowing into their closed mouth. But being the recipient of two ear surgeries, I'm very paranoid about doing that, as it seems only to increase pressure in the sinuses.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

My doctor recommended giving kids pretzels for the chewing nad swallowing as soon as you get on the plane. It worked.
Good luck

 

[NJRRK]

If it's just an ear-popping problem these methods will work.

I, however, have more problems than just my ears not popping, they actually do pop without too much problem. My problem is my actual sinuses, they don't like the changes in altitude AT ALL. I was in pain the entire week I spent at Aspen before I found this out.

If it is more than just the ear-popping get thee to an Ear/Nose/Throat specailist to check you out and perhaps get some medication to make flying more comfortable.

 

[goofy4tink]

I"ve used the EarPlanes with great success. You can buy them in most drugstores..they come in adult and child sizes. I also take a decongestant about an hour before I fly..that helps also.

 

[VogelFamily]

You guys are so prompt. Thank you for the great suggestions, I really think he will be able to do some of the "exercises" that have been recommended. I was wondering about the decongestant but have no experience with that.I was not sure if it would be effective or not. I will ask his physician for advice as well. She is a mom of young boys, and they frequently travel so will probably be helpful. But as usual, "real world" experience from others is always so valuable.............heather

 

[VogelFamily]

what are EarPlanes?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Try benedryl or a decongestant like sudafed before you fly. I always have my DD chew something during take off and landing.

 

[xnascar2x]

I vote for Earplanes as well. My DW and DD used them on our last trip and had no ear problems. My DW said they helped alot.

 

[Kes]

I have many problems with my ears and flying. My physician sugested Vicks Inhalers one time and they work. These are the little things that look like a tube of lip balm but you inhale the vapors through the tube. When you feel the plane starting to descend, just use the inhaler once or twice in each nostril. I also take a decongestant before I fly (Sudafed) and if my ears are still bothering me, I'll use some of the exercises noted above.

I once went a week through WDW with sever ear pain from flying. That was over 10 years ago. I got to WDW and/or DL a couple of times a year now and have not had a problem with my ears since using the Vicks inhalers.

With any of these medications or inhalers, make sure you use it once before the trip to make sure there is not going to be a nasty reaction or something. They are generally safe, but you don't want to find out you have an unknown allergy or something while on your way to WDW.

 

[keishashadow]

what are EarPlanes?

it's a brand of ear plugs that are specially designed to avoid pressure changes that can cause congestion/clogging/pain.

until i tried them (doubtfully i might add) my ears would hurt when i flew & I couldn't hear well for a day or so...now - NO PROBLEM!

I have bought even the drug strore brand (cheaper) work well too.

each set lasts for a few flights, check them out approx. $7 -$10

 

[Laurabearz]

My kids used the earplanes once and have asked for them again on their upcoming flight... My Middle one reminds me about them at least 3 times a week.

 

[katallo]

Another vote for Earplanes

 

[LSchrow]

"horrible pain" seems to indicate fluid in the ears. i agee with another poster's opinion to see an ENT.
(fyi, DD's ENT recommended using an antihistimine, along with gum & earplanes. the antihistime, taken about a half hour before flight, has relieved both her & me from that horrible pain, while the earplanes & gum help with the popping).
hth

 

[karliebug]

Definitely get the earplanes . They work so well and my kids and I have terrrible ear problems. I have even seen pilots where them. I also give them an oral decongestant about 20 minutes before the flight ,too. Please get them because that ear pain is horrible.