Symptoms

• Common ear problems from diving include pain, hearing loss, loss of balance, dizziness, ears that feel full or blocked and nausea.
  
  

Types

• Ear problems from diving can be the result of physical changes in the ear such as blockage. Other diver's ear problems are related to the inability to sense sounds after nerve damage has occurred.
  
  

Causes

• Ear-related diving problems are caused by the difference in pressure in the inner and outer ear that increases as divers go deeper underwater.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Barotrauma (injury from pressure) can be prevented by descending underwater slowly while using one of several maneuvers to equalize pressure in the ear. One common maneuver is pinching the nose while closing the mouth and blowing softly.
  
  

Warning

• Divers with inflamed mucous membranes from a cold or allergies, a history of facial injury or severe ear infections may be at higher risk for diving-related ear problems and may have a harder time equalizing ear pressure.