What does Airplane ear means?

Airplane ear is a common condition which happens when our ears are affected by change in air pressure inside an airplane. 

In normal situation, air pressure inside and outside the ears is equal. But in condition when a plane takes off or descent, the rapid change in atmospheric height changes pressure of air inside the cabin, this results in uncomfortable pressure or blockage sensation inside the ears, with or without mild pain in association. As soon as the plane lands, air pressure equalizes in the outer and middle ear and the pain or blocked feeling may vanishes, except in very small proportion of people for whom the symptom persist.

Is Airplane ear a common issue?

It is quite familiar symptom, but it affects different persons in different way. The symptom of airplane ear includes

  • Slight discomfort
  • Ear pain.
  • If there is associated nose block or cold or an ear infection, the symptoms may be even more uncomfortable.

Mostly the symptom goes away once the plane has landed and air pressure has been equalized.

Why does airplane ear happens?

There is a slim tube that connect the ear with the nose and throat, called Eustachian tubes. They open and shut each time we swallow or yawn in order to keep the air pressure equal between the ears and the nose/throat. 

If there is rapid change in air pressure, then Eustachian tube fail to react quickly and in such process air accumulation happens behind the ear drum, which is felt as blocked feeling in the ear. It can also interfere with sounds vibrating through the ear drum and the hearing bones.

Now each and every time a aero plane takes off or lands, the air pressure changes and the ears need to adapt to this change in air pressure. Until the Eustachian tubes equalize the pressure, the difference between the inside and outside pushes on the eardrum. This pressure difference causes mild discomfort, blocked feeling inside ear or in some people mild may face pain in ear and even the sounds may get muffled. The discomfort of airplane ear worsens when flying with a cold, nasal congestion or allergies.

Diagnoses

Airplane ear generally goes away once the plane lands. Other may face:-

  • Mild ongoing pain.
  • Persistent blocked ear.
  • Vertigo.
  • Ear discharge.
  • Bleeding in severe cases if ear drum perforates.

Otoscopic examination of the ears is helpful,

Pure tone audiometry (hearing test)

Tympanometry (measurement of ear drum pressure). 

Tips to relieve airplane ear

  • Continuous swallowing and yawning while take off or landing. 
  • For babies, it is helpful to feed them or a pacifier at the time of the airplane’s descent so that they will swallow.
  • Chew gum during the flight.
  • Wear ear plugs.
  • Blow nose gently into a tissue to alleviate pressure.
  • Blow air through your nose while closing your mouth and pinching your nose. 
  • Decongestant nasal drop if there is associated cold or allergies.