Equalising help

[James 1976]

Hi hope someone can help, I more than often find it difficult to equalise my left ear, but sometimes i can do it without problems. I have been diving in the sea to 30m so I know I can do it and don't have any major disfunction with my ears. "Most of the time" when on dry land or indoors I cannot seem to equalise my left ear using the pinch and blow method. This often worries me, especially the night before a dive as i worry it will be a wasted journey. This evening for example, Im using an octovent balloon; sometimes I can hear my left ear cackle and pop, but another blow seconds later I cannot hear this crackling or popping, it seems odd. Is it possible while equalising on dry land, when the pressure is released (i.e I stop blowing/using a balloon) that the ear tube could remain in the open position, so that when the pinch blow is administered again (within seconds) it makes no discernible difference ?? Ive been practising equalising for the last hour and now my left ear feels slightly "dull" like its full up

[Divemouse]

You've just made it unhappy - give it a rest. You won't necessarily hear crackles and pops anyway - my right ear (which is rubbish) does all that, but my left never does anything discernible at all.

[dangerousdan]

Mine crackle and make funny noises all the time too. Still havent figured it out and definitive answers seem impossible to come by. Everyone I ask describes it differently. Let me know if you figure it out.

[MattJ]

I have to equalise 2 different ways - one for each ear. Pinch and blow sorts my right ear - pinch and swallow (whilst tipping my head to the right to straighten any tubes?!) seems to work best for my left.

[James 1976]

I have to equalise 2 different ways - one for each ear. Pinch and blow sorts my right ear - pinch and swallow (whilst tipping my head to the right to straighten any tubes?!) seems to work best for my left.

Will deffo try that once back in the water; thing is i try all combinations of head movements blowing, tipping head to one side, looking up, making a "K" sound with the lounge while tightening the chest muscles ect ect ect; all sorts and eventually its sorted. Its just realising what it is exactly that does it, thats the issue with me at least i just dont know.

[Tim Digger]

Opening your jaws and waggling them from side to side may help! This is difficult as conventional mouthpieces may fall out. An orthodontic moulded mouth piece may help enable this if trials while holding the mouthpiece in place show promise.

[Barnoe]

Id never had a problem before my last dive, my right ear in my case wasnt having any of it.
got quite painful at one point, had to rise and blow harder.
I had been on the beer all the day before.... so may have been dehydrated.

The next day i tested positive for covid too (still have it...stand back ) no idea if that has an effect

[notdeadyet]

I've found it hard to equalise in air like in chambers or diving with a helmet. Don't know why but the normal valsalva doesn't work for me, I have to use the swallow/Frenzel method. Fine underwater generally.

Try descending slower and equalising a lot more than you think you need to. Like it feels like you're equalising almost continually on the way down. If you wait til you feel it then it's usually too late and it'll be a lot harder to clear. And don't be afraid to go up a metre or two, sawtoothing a descent isn't the end of the world.

[Dylona]

When my ears are being a pain in the butt!!!! I take a 12 hour Sudafed to open the sinus a little - not the one with caffiene or any "super strong pack"

I also often do a sinus rinse the night before, its not pleasant but it helps loads

[notdeadyet]

When my ears are being a pain in the butt!!!! I take a 12 hour Sudafed to open the sinus a little - not the one with caffiene or any "super strong pack"

I also often do a sinus rinse the night before, its not pleasant but it helps loads

I never take Sudafed when I'm diving. It's got known side effects on mood and anxiety. When I've used it in the past it makes me noticeably short-tempered and impatient. I know other divers that have said the same. There's a good chance of me making bad decisions underwater when I feel like that so I'd rather not touch it. I believe there's been some discussion of it potentially lowering the threshold for a CNS tox as well.