For people who deal with tinnitus, air travel can be a source of stress, as the flight may intensify their ear discomfort, enhancing the usual pre-trip anxieties about getting to their final destination. The increased noise inside the airplane, variations in air pressure, and the anxiety related to flying can all result in a worsening or more disturbing experience of tinnitus. Fortunately, understanding how flying impacts your ears and learning ways to prepare can make your next trip much more manageable.
What is tinnitus and why does it flare up in the air?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound without any external source. Some people experience a continuous ringing sound, while others perceive buzzing, clicking, whooshing, or static sounds.
Tinnitus is often an indicator of a deeper health issue or hidden condition, including:
- Hearing Loss: Traumatic head injuries or extended exposure to extreme noise levels can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear.
- Blockages or Infection: Tinnitus can be triggered or exacerbated by fluid accumulation and infections in the ears.
- Certain medications can be ototoxic to the inner ear, causing or aggravating hearing and balance problems.
- Benign Tumors: Growths like acoustic neuromas might impact hearing and balance.
Tinnitus could be subjective (experienced only by the patient) or objective (audible to a clinician through a stethoscope-like device). When flying, a number of variables can worsen the symptoms, making travel more unpleasant for those affected.
Exploring the connection between airplane ear and tinnitus
“Airplane ear” is a phrase used to describe the sensation of fullness, pressure, or muffled hearing that often accompanies flying. The issue occurs when the eustachian tubes, responsible for maintaining ear pressure, have difficulty adapting to going up or down. If these tubes fail to open effectively, pressure discrepancies can develop, causing discomfort or even pain.
For people with tinnitus, this pressure imbalance can intensify their symptoms or introduce new ones. The anxiety and sensory stimulation of air travel can increase the problem.
Why flying can aggravate tinnitus symptoms
Air travel can worsen tinnitus symptoms due to various factors.
- Jet Engine Noise: High decibel levels inside the cabin, particularly near the engines, can aggravate sensitivity in the ears and worsen tinnitus.
- Changes in Air Pressure: The abrupt changes in air pressure that happen during flight takeoff and landing can disrupt the regular functioning of the eardrum and nearby tissues, possibly causing or exacerbating tinnitus symptoms.
- Travel-related stress, coupled with inadequate rest or insufficient hydration, can exacerbate the experience of tinnitus, making it seem more pronounced and troublesome.
In-flight techniques to reduce ringing in the ears.
By working a few easy precautions into your flight routine, you can dramatically decrease the discomfort and pressure in your ears during air travel.
- Use Noise-Canceling Headphones: These can substantially reduce background engine noise, particularly during takeoff and landing. They also allow you to listen to calming music or white noise, which may mask tinnitus.
- Choose Your Seat Carefully: If you can, pick a seat in the front of the aircraft, further from the engines. This location is typically calmer and better suited for a relaxing journey.
- Stay Away From Conventional Earplugs: These types of earplugs can potentially intensify the issue by putting added pressure on the inner ear, worsening existing symptoms. Alternatively, think about using plugs that are produced for controlling ear pressure during air travel.
- Chew Gum or Swallow Regularly: These actions help keep the eustachian tubes open up, allowing pressure to neuturalize more effectively.
- Take a Decongestant (If Authorized by Your Doctor): If you’re battling nasal congestion or allergies, consider using an oral or nasal decongestant prior to flying to avoid obstructions in the eustachian tubes.
- Remain Alert During Ascent and Descent: Staying awake allows your body to naturally adapt to air pressure changes. Sleeping during these moments can reduce the probability of active pressure equalization.
Strategies for staying relaxed and entertained during a flight
Redirecting one’s attention can be a highly effective strategy for dealing with tinnitus. Consider diverting your attention with stimulating distractions such as audiobooks, comforting music, or brain teasers to shift your attention away. Meditation apps and breathing exercises can also help ease flight-related stress and lessen your awareness of tinnitus.
Prior to your trip, make sure to rest well and stay hydrated. Steering clear of caffeine or alcohol on the day of travel might also help lessen symptoms related to the ears. And if you use hearing aids, don’t hesitate to use them on the plane– they may help you hear more naturally, decreasing the prominence of the internal ringing or buzzing.
Get professional advice if tinnitus interferes with travel
If you regularly experience discomfort while flying because of tinnitus, it is advisable to seek advice from a professional in hearing health. A comprehensive evaluation can determine the root cause of your tinnitus and result in targeted advice– including custom travel strategies or treatment options to deal with flare-ups more successfully.
Arrange a consultation to assess your ringing in the ears symptoms now.
