For individuals who experience tinnitus, air travel can be a source of stress, as the flight might intensify their ear discomfort, adding to the normal pre-trip jitters about reaching their final destination. The loud cabin noise, shifting air pressure, and stress related to air travel can all add to more intense or bothersome tinnitus. Luckily, recognizing how flying impacts 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 perception of sound without any external source. Some people experience a continuous ringing sound, while others perceive buzzing, clicking, whooshing, or static noises.
While tinnitus itself isn’t a disease, it’s often a symptom of a hidden issue such as:
- Inner Ear Damage: Exposure to loud noises or head trauma can damage the auditory system.
- Obstructions or Infection: Tinnitus can be triggered or exacerbated by fluid accumulation and infections in the ears.
- Some medications can be ototoxic to the inner ear, causing or aggravating hearing and balance problems.
- Benign Tumors: Acoustic neuromas are benign tumors that can affect both hearing and balance.
Tinnitus could be subjective (experienced 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.
Comprehending airplane ear and its link to tinnitus
“Airplane ear” is a phrase used to describe the feeling of fullness, pressure, or muffled hearing that often accompanies flying. The issue arises when the eustachian tubes, responsible for sustaining ear pressure, have trouble adapting to going up or down. If these tubes fail to open effectively, pressure discrepancies can develop, causing discomfort or even pain.
Individuals experiencing tinnitus may find that this pressure inconsistency exacerbates their existing symptoms or triggers additional ones. The additional stress and sensory overload of a flight only compound the issue.
Why flying can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms
Air travel can aggravate tinnitus symptoms because of several factors.
- Jet Engine Noise: High decibel levels inside the cabin, especially near the engines, can aggravate sensitivity in the ears and exacerbate tinnitus.
- Pressure Alterations: During takeoff and landing, the rapid changes in cabin pressure can affect how the eardrum and surrounding structures vibrate, which may activate or heighten tinnitus.
- Travel-related stress, combined with inadequate rest or insufficient hydration, can exacerbate the sensation of tinnitus, making it seem more obvious and troublesome.
In-flight strategies to alleviate ringing in the ears.
Taking a few basic steps can go a long way toward relieving the strain on your ears during air travel:
- Use Noise-Canceling Headphones: These can substantially reduce background engine noise, especially during takeoff and landing. You can also listen to relaxing music or white noise, which can help conceal the ringing in your ears.
- Select a strategic seating option: If feasible, opt for a seat towards the front of the plane rather than near the engines. This spot tends to be quieter and more conducive to a peaceful flight.
- Stay Away From Conventional Earplugs: These types of earplugs can possibly intensify the problem by putting added pressure on the inner ear, aggravating existing symptoms. Alternatively, consider utilizing plugs that are made for regulating ear pressure during air travel.
- Chew Gum or Swallow Regularly: These actions help keep the eustachian tubes open up, allowing pressure to neuturalize more efficiently.
- Use a Decongestant (If Approved by Your Doctor): If you’re battling nasal congestion or allergies, consider taking an oral or nasal decongestant prior to flying to avoid obstructions in the eustachian tubes.
- Stay Awake for Takeoff and Landing: Being awake helps your body naturally manage pressure. Sleeping during these moments can decrease the likelihood of active pressure adjustement.
Strategies for staying relaxed and entertained during a flight
Distraction is a potent tool for managing tinnitus. Bring entertainment options like audiobooks, soothing playlists, or puzzles to keep your focus elsewhere. Meditation apps and breathing exercises can also help alleviate flight-related stress and lessen your awareness of tinnitus.
Before your trip, aim to get quality rest and stay hydrated. Skipping caffeine or alcohol on travel day can also decrease ear-related symptoms. 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 tinnitus regularly makes flying uncomfortable, it’s worth consulting with a hearing specialist. A detailed assessment can pinpoint the hidden reason for your tinnitus and result in specific suggestions, such as individualized coping techniques or treatment plans, to better manage instances of increased symptoms.
Arrange a consultation to assess your ringing in the ears symptoms now.