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What is ear barotrauma?

Ear barotrauma is a condition that causes ear discomfort due to pressure changes.

In each ear there is a tube that connects the middle of your ear to your throat and nose. It also helps regulate ear pressure. This tube is called the eustachian tube. When the tube is blocked, you may experience ear barotrauma.

偶尔会出现耳托马，尤其是在高度变化的环境中。虽然这种情况在某些人中并不有害，但频繁的情况可能会导致进一步的并发症。重要的是要了解急性（偶尔）和慢性（经常性）病例之间的差异，以便您知道何时寻求医疗治疗。

If you have ear barotrauma, you may feel an uncomfortable pressure inside the ear. Common symptoms, which occur earlier or in mild to moderate cases, may include:

  • dizziness
  • general ear discomfort
  • 轻微hearing loss或者difficulty hearing
  • stuffiness or fullness in the ear

If it progresses long enough without treatment or the case is particularly severe, symptoms may intensify. Additional symptoms that may occur in these cases include:

  • 耳痛
  • feeling of pressure in the ears, as if you were underwater
  • nosebleed
  • moderate to severe hearing loss or difficulty
  • 耳鼓受伤

Once treated, almost all symptoms will go away. Hearing loss from ear barotrauma is almost always temporary and reversible.

Eustachian tube blockage is one of the causes of ear barotrauma. The eustachian tube helps to restore equilibrium during changes in pressure. For example, yawning normally opens the eustachian tube. When the tube is blocked, symptoms develop because the pressure in the ear is different than the pressure outside of your eardrum.

Altitude changes are the most common cause of this condition. One of the places many people experience ear barotrauma is during an airplane’s ascent or descent. The condition is sometimes referred to as airplane ear.

Other situations that might cause ear barotrauma include:

  • scuba diving
  • hiking
  • driving through mountains

潜水耳朵的背道

Diving is a common cause of ear barotrauma. When you go diving, you are in much more pressure underwater than on land. The first 14 feet of the dive is often the biggest risk for ear injury for divers. Symptoms typically develop immediately or soon after the dive.

Middle ear barotrauma is particularly common in divers, as the pressure underwater changes drastically.

预防耳气压伤,下降缓慢而diving.

任何可能阻止尤斯塔克的管子的问题都使您有经历Barotrauma的风险。有人allergies,colds, or active infections may be more likely to experience ear barotrauma.

婴儿和幼儿也有这种情况的风险。儿童的尤斯塔克式管较小，定位与成人的位置不同，并且可能更容易被阻塞。当婴儿和幼儿在起飞或着陆期间在飞机上哭泣时，通常是因为他们感觉到耳朵的低压。

虽然耳胸可能会自行消失，但如果您的症状包括明显的疼痛或出血，则应与医生联系。您可以使用该地区的医生使用Healthline FindCare tool. A medical exam may be required to rule out an ear infection.

Many times ear barotrauma can be detected through a physical exam. A close look inside the ear with an otoscope can often reveal changes in the eardrum. Due to pressure change, the eardrum may be pushed slightly outward or inward from where it should normally sit. Your doctor may also squeeze air (insufflation) into the ear to see if there is fluid or blood buildup behind the eardrum. If there are no significant findings on physical exam, often the situations you report that surround your symptoms will give clues toward the correct diagnosis.

Most cases of ear barotrauma generally heal without medical intervention. There are some self-care steps you can take for immediate relief. You may help relieve the effects of air pressure on your ears by:

Shop online for antihistamines.

In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or a steroid to help in cases of infection or inflammation.

In some cases, ear barotrauma results in aruptured eardrum. A ruptured eardrum can take up to two months to heal. Symptoms that don’t respond to self-care may require surgery to prevent permanent damage to the eardrum.

Surgery

In severe or chronic cases of barotrauma, surgery may be the best option for treatment. Chronic cases of ear barotrauma may be aided with the help of ear tubes. These small cylinders are placed through the eardrum to stimulate airflow into the middle of the ear. Ear tubes, also known as tympanostomy tubes or grommets, are most commonly used in children and they can help prevent infections from ear barotrauma. These are also commonly used in those with chronic barotrauma who frequently change altitudes, like those who need to fly or travel often. The ear tube will typically remain in place for six to 12 months.

The second surgical option involves a tiny slit being made into the eardrum to better allow pressure to equalize. This can also remove any fluid that’s present in the middle ear. The slit will heal quickly, and may not be a permanent solution.

Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to ear barotrauma. This is because their eustachian tubes are much smaller and straighter and therefore struggle more with equalization.

If your infant is demonstrating signs of discomfort, distress, agitation, or pain while experiencing a change in altitude, it’s likely they’re experiencing ear barotrauma.

为了帮助防止婴儿的耳trot虫，您可以在高度变化中喂食或让他们喝酒。对于耳朵不适的儿童，您的医生可能会开出耳塞以缓解疼痛。

Ear barotrauma is usually temporary. However, complications may arise in some people, especially in chronic cases. If left untreated, this condition may cause:

  • ear infections
  • ruptured eardrum
  • hearing loss
  • 经常性疼痛
  • 长期头晕和不平衡的感觉（vertigo)
  • bleeding from the ears and nose

如果您患有耳痛或听力减少，则应联系医生。持续性和反复出现的症状可能是严重或慢性耳barotrauma的迹象。您的医生会治疗您，并给您提示以防止任何并发症。

There is a range of severities and specific types of ear barotrauma that affect how someone recovers and what that recovery process looks like. The majority of those who experience ear barotrauma will make a full recovery, with no permanent hearing loss.

While recovering, patients should avoid significant pressure changes (like those experienced while diving or on an airplane). Many cases of barotrauma will resolve spontaneously and without any treatment.

If barotrauma is caused by allergies or respiratory infections, it will often be resolved when the underlying cause has been resolved. Mild to moderate cases take an average of up to two weeks for a full recovery. Severe cases can take six to 12 months for a full recovery after surgery.

当气压性创伤导致感染或者巴勒斯坦权力机构in is intense and symptoms are not resolving or are worsening, you should make an appointment to see your doctor.

您可以通过在潜水或在飞机上飞行前服用抗组胺药或充血药物来降低体验Barotrauma的风险。您应该始终与您的医生联系，并在服用新药物之前了解可能的副作用。

Other steps you can take to prevent or lessen barotrauma include:

  • descend slowly while diving
  • swallow, yawn, and chew when you feel symptoms of barotrauma, which can relieve symptoms
  • exhale through your nose during an ascent in altitude
  • avoid wearing earplugs while diving or flying