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.

Learn More

• Airplane Ear Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Ear – blocked at high altitudes Medical Encyclopedia
• Ear barotrauma Medical Encyclopedia
• Ears and Altitude (Barotrauma) American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
• Flying and Your Child’s Ears Nemours Foundation
• Scuba Diving Safety American Academy of Family Physicians

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Barotrauma National Institutes of Health

Journal Articles

• Barotrauma