Can you rupture an eardrum from flying

However, for a severe case of airplane ear, you might need to see a doctor. If discomfort, fullness or muffled hearing lasts more than a few days, or if you have severe signs or symptoms, call your doctor. Airplane ear happens when there is an imbalance in the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment.

A narrow passage called the eustachian tube regulates air pressure in your ear. This can trigger airplane ear. The middle ear includes three small bones — the hammer malleus , anvil incus and stirrup stapes. The middle ear is separated from your external ear by the eardrum and connected to the back of your nose and throat by a narrow passageway called the eustachian tube. The cochlea, a snail-shaped structure, is part of your inner ear.

Airplane ear occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear and the air pressure in the environment don't match, preventing your eardrum tympanic membrane from vibrating normally. A narrow passage called the eustachian tube, which is connected to the middle ear, regulates air pressure. When an airplane climbs or descends, the air pressure changes rapidly. The eustachian tube often can't react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of airplane ear.

Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows the middle ear to get more air, equalizing the air pressure. You may also experience a minor case of barotrauma while riding an elevator in a tall building or driving in the mountains. Are there special earplugs I could buy that would make the flight bearable? It's only an hour-and-a-half flight. Before you book that ticket, know that it is the altitude of the flight — and not the amount of time you are in the air — that can harm your healing eardrum.

Barotrauma, or a sudden change in ear pressure, is a common cause of eardrum ruptures. Barotrauma can also occur during explosions or diving mishaps. Even during a very brief flight, the change in pressure due to high flying altitudes may cause your aching eardrum to re-rupture.

The tympanic membrane also known as the eardrum separates the outer and middle ears. This membrane vibrates when sound waves hit it, creating nerve impulses that the brain identifies as sound. The tympanic membrane is very delicate, allowing it to respond to the softest sounds. More: Wear hearing aids?

Check out our air travel tips for people with hearing loss. Joy Victory has extensive experience editing consumer health information. Her training in particular has focused on how to best communicate evidence-based medical guidelines and clinical trial results to the public.

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