Barotrauma Summary Barotrauma means injury to your body because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure. One common type happens to your ear. A change in altitude may cause your ears to hurt. This can happen if you are flying in an airplane, driving in the mountains, or scuba diving. Divers can also get decompression sickness, which affects the whole body. Common symptoms of ear barotrauma include Pain A feeling that your ears are stuffed Hearing loss Dizziness Treatments for ear barotrauma include chewing gum and yawning to relieve the pressure. Medications such as decongestants may also help. Resources Airplane Ear Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Ear – blocked at high altitudes Ear barotrauma Ears and Altitude American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Flying and Your Child’s Ears Nemours Foundation Flying with Baby American Academy of Pediatrics Scuba Diving Safety American Academy of Family Physicians Travelers’ Health: Scuba Diving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Barotrauma National Institutes of Health Journal Articles Barotrauma
