If you cope with tinnitus, boarding a plane may bring more than just excitement about your destination– it might also come with concerns about intensifying ear symptoms. The boosted noise inside the airplane, fluctuations in air pressure, and the stress associated with flying can all result in a worsening or more disturbing experience of tinnitus. Luckily, recognizing how flying affects your ears and discovering 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 apprehension of sound without any external source. For some people, it presents as a persistent ringing, while other people might hear buzzing, clicking, whooshing, or static-like sounds.
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 weaken the auditory system.
- Ear Infections or Blockages: Fluid accumulation and infections can activate or worsen tinnitus.
- Ototoxic Medicines: A number of medications can harm the inner ear, resulting in or aggravating symptoms.
- 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, several factors can intensify the symptoms, making travel more uncomfortable for those affected.
Exploring the link between airplane ear and tinnitus
The term “airplane ear” describes the sensation of ears being full, under pressure, or experiencing muted hearing while flying. The issue arises when the eustachian tubes, responsible for sustaining ear pressure, have difficulty adjusting to going up or down. Insufficient opening of these tubes may cause pressure differences to arise, resulting in discomfort or pain.
For people who cope with tinnitus, this pressure imbalance can amplify their symptoms or present new ones. The stress and sensory stimulation of air travel can exacerbate the problem.
How air travel can intensify tinnitus symptoms
A number of elements of air travel may intensify tinnitus:
- Jet Engine Noise: High decibel levels inside the cabin, particularly near the engines, can intensify sensitivity in the ears and worsen tinnitus.
- Shifts in Air Pressure: The abrupt changes in air pressure that occur during flight takeoff and landing can interfere with the normal functioning of the eardrum and nearby tissues, possibly causing or worsening tinnitus symptoms.
- Stress and Exhaustion: The stress of travel, combined with poor sleep or dehydration, can increase your experience of tinnitus and cause it to feel more disruptive.
In-flight techniques to reduce ringing in the ears.
Taking a few simple steps can go a long way toward easing the strain on your ears during air travel:
- Wearing noise-canceling headphones can greatly minimize the distracting sounds of the plane’s engine, particularly during the loud periods of departure and arrival. They also allow you to listen to soothing music or white noise, which can mask tinnitus.
- Choose Your Seat Carefully: If available, pick a seat in the front of the plane, further from the engines. This location is typically calmer and better suited for a relaxing journey.
- Avoid Basic Earplugs: Though tempting, traditional earplugs might increase inner ear pressure, making symptoms worse. Alternatively, consider using 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 efficiently.
- Take a Decongestant (If Approved by Your Doctor): If you’re fighting nasal congestion or allergies, consider taking an oral or nasal decongestant before flying to prevent obstructions in the eustachian tubes.
- Stay Awake for Takeoff and Landing: Being awake helps your body naturally manage pressure. Resting at these times may decrease the chances of achieving proper pressure balance.
Strategies for staying relaxed and entertained during a flight
Refocusing one’s attention can be a highly effective strategy for dealing with tinnitus. Bring entertainment options like audiobooks, calming playlists, or puzzles to keep your focus elsewhere. Practicing meditation using apps and doing breathing exercises can reduce anxiety related to flying and decrease your awareness of tinnitus.
Before your flight, try to get quality sleep and stay hydrated. Avoiding caffeine or alcohol on travel day can also reduce ear-related symptoms. If you rely on hearing aids, consider wearing them during your flight – they can help restore a more natural hearing experience and potentially minimize the effect of any internal ringing or buzzing sounds.
Seek professional advice if tinnitus disrupts travel
If you regularly experience discomfort while flying because of tinnitus, it is recommended to seek advice from a professional in hearing health. A detailed evaluation can identify the underlying reason for your tinnitus and bring about specific recommendations, including individualized coping techniques or treatment plans, to better manage instances of increased symptoms.
Arrange a consultation to evaluate your ringing in the ears symptoms now.
