Problems Clearing Ears
03-27-2007, 09:40 PM
#1
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Problems Clearing Ears
Has anyone ever had problems clearing their ears? I have never had any problems in 700 hours of civilain flying. But now that I am in something that climbs/descends more than 500 fpm I have had quite a problem getting my left ear cleared. Anyone have experience with the combat edge mask and clearing? Any tricks other than tilting your head from side to side?
Also, has anyone ever had PE Tubes put in to help? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks
Crewdawg
Also, has anyone ever had PE Tubes put in to help? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks
Crewdawg
03-28-2007, 05:59 AM
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I don't know if this is correct or healthy, but it works for me: I close my mouth, pinch my nose closed with a hand, then GENTLY try to blow through my nose - this sends a slight backpressure through the ears, clearing them.
03-28-2007, 06:39 AM
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Originally Posted by aero550
I don't know if this is correct or healthy, but it works for me: I close my mouth, pinch my nose closed with a hand, then GENTLY try to blow through my nose - this sends a slight backpressure through the ears, clearing them.
The VALSALVA maneuver
03-28-2007, 09:06 AM
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Valsalva is the fix for clearing ears while descending...if its just your left ear you need to clear, try tilting your head to the right so your left ear is pointed upward, close off your other ear with a finger, and hold your nose closed and blow gently. If you have a sinus block, this will not work and you could end up blowing a sinus cavity. That is why you should never go flying with sinus troubles. Along with that, just becuase you can successfully valsalva (clear a sinus) on the ground, this does not mean that another cavity is not blocked.
I do not have any commercial experience and do not know what types of cabin altitudes are reached at higher flight levels as that will play a factor in how your sinuses react.
I do not have any commercial experience and do not know what types of cabin altitudes are reached at higher flight levels as that will play a factor in how your sinuses react.
03-28-2007, 09:35 AM
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I've had tubes put in a few times. When they put them in they anesthetize and make a tiny cut under your ear drum. They help a lot, but the the problem is they eventually work themselves out in a few months or get clogged with ear wax. Another problem with tubes is scar tissue build up which could create problems later on with hearing.
03-28-2007, 12:41 PM
#7
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I had to figure this out when I was doing military dive training...try the valsava manuever, but puff your cheeks WAY out while doing it. That seems to allow the tubes to open up better.
Also valsalva works better the more you do it...so try practicing frequently.
Also valsalva works better the more you do it...so try practicing frequently.
03-28-2007, 03:22 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by EvilGN
Valsalva is the fix for clearing ears while descending...if its just your left ear you need to clear, try tilting your head to the right so your left ear is pointed upward, close off your other ear with a finger, and hold your nose closed and blow gently. If you have a sinus block, this will not work and you could end up blowing a sinus cavity. That is why you should never go flying with sinus troubles. Along with that, just becuase you can successfully valsalva (clear a sinus) on the ground, this does not mean that another cavity is not blocked.
Do you fly with the combat edge mask? If so, does the ocluder (sp?) valve work for you? Unfortunately for me the tweets pressurization system sucks and is causing me some problems. To everyone else thanks for the help. My problem is that with the mask I have a heck of a time pinching my nose which makes it hard to valsalva.
04-02-2007, 05:28 PM
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I am not familiar with the term combat edge mask...I use a mask that looks like this http://www.check6aviation.com/pages/...age/oxm121.htm the portion you have to push on to close your nose does make it somewhat tougher to do (valsalva). However, I would think it would be ok for you to take the mask down for a few seconds every time you need to valsalva. I would hope an instructor would not have a problem with that. If I come down from FL280 (cabin altitude around 12k or so) I usually have to valsalva 3-4 times prior to landing. I have always had to do this....in an airliner its about the same...
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