Preventing In-Flight Ear Pain

The pressure in your ears is the same as the air pressure outside. When pressure changes, it can cause ear pain. Your ears cannot adjust to this change fast enough leading to air and fluid trapped in the middle ear.

Hearing loss or a ruptured eardrum can occur in severe cases. This is what happens on airplanes. The air pressure changes when the plane ascends or descends. There are things that you can do to reduce the likelihood of in-flight ear pain.

Ear Pain Risk Factors

In-flight ear pain can happen to anyone. There are risk factors that increase your chance of having in-flight ear pain or hearing loss. Having a cold or infection can increase the chances of ear pain while flying. Sleeping on takeoff or landing and small eustachian tube can also increase ear pain.

How To Prevent Ear Pain

• Yawn, chew, or swallow during the plane’s ascent and descent. This opens up your Eustachian tube and can help ease pressure.
• Use the valsalva maneuver. This is a form of hearing care for many purposes, including flying. Pinch the nostrils closed, close your mouth, and blow air out your nostrils. It’s almost like you are blowing your nose.
• Use filtered ear plugs during ascent and descent. These help to equalize ear pressure during ascent and descent.
• Hearing care requires you to be awake during take off and landing. This is so that you can perform these techniques.
• If you are taking allergy medication, take it one hour before flying.
• Take a nasal decongestant 30 minutes before flying.
• Avoid flying if at all possible if you have a cold, sinus infection, or ear infection.

Prevention For Children

If traveling with children, you can help them to use these techniques. Encourage them to blow bubble through a straw and blow their nose. Ask your doctor about ear drops for the flight to offer pain relief and help regulate ear pressure.

It is important to know that you can prevent ear pain with flying by applying these prevention tips. This means you must think ahead. You want to have the necessary supplies on hand and can take any medication before getting on the plane.

Need more information on how to prevent or ease ear pain? Contact Chicago Beltone today.