Airplane ear, also called barotrauma or barotitis media, is an earache caused from changes in air pressure often while flying. Airplane Ears is also caused by having a cold, nasal allergy, throat infection or sinus infection. Airplane ear usually causes temporary earache, pain and slight hearing loss from ears getting “clogged up”. To learn how to get rid of Airplane Ears, read the steps below.
Step One
Try swallowing multiple times, as the plane starts to take off.
Step Two
Blow your nose or hold you nose and act as if you are blowing it. That puts pressure on your eardrums and helps them to pop. A lot of scuba divers do this in order to normalize pressure.
Step Three
Try chewing gum. Start chewing a little before the plane actually takes off. The most important thing is to keep opening and closing your jaw, which helps to counteract the pressure in your ears. You can achieve this by eating or sucking on candy, drinking water, etc...
Step Four
Get over the counter decongestants or nose sprays. Take an hour before your flight is scheduled to land.
Step Five
Squeeze you nose shut, gulp in air through your mouth and try to force the air into your nose. If you feel your ears "pop", you will know that they have unclogged.
Step Six
If you fly often and the ear pain lasts all throughout the flight or even longer, consult an ear doctor to get a professional opinion on what you should do to prevent Airplane Ears while flying.