If you live with tinnitus, boarding a plane might bring more than just enthusiasm about your destination– it may also come with concerns about intensifying ear symptoms. The loud cabin noise, shifting air pressure, and tension related to air travel can all add to more intense or irritating tinnitus. Luckily, understanding how flying affects your ears and learning ways to prepare can make your next journey much more manageable.
What causes tinnitus to intensify in high-elevation settings?
Tinnitus is the apprehension of sound without any external source. Some individuals experience a continuous ringing sound, while others hear buzzing, clicking, whooshing, or static noises.
Tinnitus is frequently an indicator of a deeper health problem or underlying condition, including:
- Inner Ear Damage: Exposure to loud noises or head trauma can damage the auditory system.
- Ear Infections or Obstructions: Fluid buildup and infections can trigger or exacerbate tinnitus.
- Ototoxic Medications: Certain drugs can harm the inner ear, leading to or intensifying symptoms.
- Benign Tumors: Growths like acoustic neuromas might affect hearing and balance.
Tinnitus could be subjective (heard only by the patient) or objective (audible to a specialist through a stethoscope-like device). Air travel can worsen symptoms for some individuals, resulting in a more stressful experience during flights.
Exploring the connection between airplane ear and tinnitus
The term “airplane ear” refers to the feeling of ears being full, under pressure, or experiencing dulled hearing while flying. The problem occurs when the eustachian tubes, responsible for sustaining ear pressure, have trouble adjusting to going up or down. Insufficient opening of these tubes might create pressure imbalances to arise, resulting in discomfort or pain.
For people with tinnitus, this pressure imbalance can amplify their symptoms or introduce new ones. The additional stress and sensory overload of a flight only compound the problem.
Why flying can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms
Air travel can aggravate tinnitus symptoms because of several factors.
- Loud jet engine sounds inside of the plane can be especially bothersome near the engines, potentially irritating sensitive ears and exacerbating existing ringing in the ears, or tinnitus.
- Shifts in Air Pressure: The abrupt changes in air pressure that happen during flight takeoff and landing can interfere with the normal functioning of the eardrum and nearby tissues, potentially causing or exacerbating tinnitus symptoms.
- Stress and Fatigue: The anxiety of travel, combined with poor sleep or dehydration, can increase your perception of tinnitus and make it feel more disruptive.
Travel tips for decreasing tinnitus discomfort mid-flight
By putting a few easy safeguards into your flight routine, you can dramatically reduce the discomfort and pressure in your ears during air travel.
- Using noise-canceling headphones can considerably decrease the disruptive sounds of the plane’s engine, especially during the loud periods of departure and arrival. You can also listen to calming music or white noise, which can help cover up the ringing in your ears.
- Select a tactical seating choice: If possible, select a seat towards the front of the plane rather than near the engines. This location tends to be quieter and more conducive to a tranquil flight.
- Steer Clear of Conventional Earplugs: These types of earplugs can potentially intensify the problem by putting added pressure on the inner ear, worsening existing symptoms. Instead, think about utilizing plugs that are produced for regulating ear pressure during air travel.
- Chew Gum or Swallow Regularly: These actions help keep the eustachian tubes open, allowing pressure to equalize more effectively.
- Take a Decongestant (If Approved by Your Doctor): If you’re fighting nasal congestion or allergies, think about taking an oral or nasal decongestant prior to flying to avoid blockages in the eustachian tubes.
- Remain Awake During Ascent and Descent: Staying awake allows your body to naturally adjust to air pressure changes. Sleeping during these times can reduce the probability of active pressure equalization.
In-flight distractions and relaxation strategies
Distraction is a powerful tool for dealing with tinnitus. Bring entertainment alternatives like audiobooks, soothing playlists, or puzzles to keep your attention elsewhere. Practicing meditation using apps and doing breathing exercises can reduce anxiety related to flying and reduce your awareness of tinnitus.
Before your trip, aim to get quality rest and stay hydrated. Steering clear of caffeine or alcohol on the day of travel may also help minimize symptoms related to the ears. And if you use hearing aids, don’t hesitate to wear them on the plane– they might help you hear more naturally, decreasing the dominance of the internal ringing or buzzing.
Talk with a professional if tinnitus affects your ability to travel
If tinnitus routinely makes flying uncomfortable, it’s worth consulting with a hearing specialist. A detailed evaluation can pinpoint the hidden reason for your tinnitus and bring about specific recommendations, such as personalized coping strategies or treatment plans, to better manage instances of increased symptoms.
Arrange a consultation to assess your ringing in the ears symptoms now.