For individuals who experience tinnitus, air travel can be a source of stress, as the flight may exacerbate their ear discomfort, adding to the normal pre-trip anxieties about getting to their final destination. The loud cabin noise, changing air pressure, and stress related to air travel can all add to more extreme or bothersome tinnitus. Fortunately, recognizing how flying affects your ears and learning ways to prepare can make your next trip far more manageable.
What causes tinnitus to worsen in high-elevation settings?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound without any external source. Some people experience a constant ringing sound, while others perceive buzzing, clicking, whooshing, or static sounds.
While tinnitus itself isn’t a disease, it’s frequently a symptom of an underlying health concerns including:
- Hearing Loss: Traumatic head injuries or extended exposure to extreme noise levels can harm the delicate structures of the inner ear.
- Ear Infections or Blockages: Fluid accumulation and infections can trigger or exacerbate tinnitus.
- Some medications can be ototoxic to the inner ear, triggering or worsening hearing and balance issues.
- Benign Tumors: Acoustic neuromas are benign tumors that can impact both hearing and balance.
Tinnitus can be perceived in two ways: as a personal experience that only the individual can hear, or as a sound that can be detected by a medical professional utilizing specialized listening devices. Air travel can exacerbate symptoms for some individuals, leading to a more stressful experience during flights.
Understanding airplane ear and its link to tinnitus
The term “airplane ear” refers to the sensation of ears being full, under pressure, or experiencing dulled hearing when flying. It occurs when the eustachian tubes– which regulate pressure in the middle ear– working to adjust to altitude changes during ascent or descent. If these tubes don’t open efficiently, pressure discrepancies can develop, causing discomfort or even pain.
For individuals with tinnitus, this pressure imbalance can intensify their symptoms or present new ones. The added stress and sensory overload of a flight only magnify the issue.
Why flying can aggravate tinnitus symptoms
Several elements of air travel may intensify tinnitus:
- Loud jet engine sounds within the plane can be especially bothersome close to the engines, potentially irritating sensitive ears and exacerbating existing ringing in the ears, or tinnitus.
- Pressure Changes: During takeoff and landing, the rapid shifts in cabin pressure can affect how the eardrum and surrounding structures vibrate, which may trigger or heighten tinnitus.
- Travel-related anxiety, combined with not enough rest or insufficient hydration, can intensify the experience of tinnitus, making it seem more obvious and troublesome.
Travel tips for decreasing tinnitus discomfort mid-flight
By putting a few easy precautions into your flight routine, you can dramatically decrease the discomfort and pressure in your ears during air travel.
- Wearing noise-canceling headphones can considerably minimize the disruptive sounds of the plane’s engine, particularly during the loud periods of departure and arrival. They also allow you to listen to calming music or white noise, which can mask tinnitus.
- Choose Your Seat Wisely: If you can, pick a seat in the front of the aircraft, further from the engines. This location tends to be quieter and more conducive to a peaceful flight.
- Stay Clear Of Standard Earplugs: Though tempting, traditional earplugs may increase inner ear pressure, making symptoms more severe. Instead, try ear pressure-regulating earplugs made specifically for air travel.
- Chew Gum: To alleviate discomfort, try chewing gum or swallowing regularly, as these basic actions can help maintain the patency of the eustachian tubes, facilitating a more efficient balance of pressure.
- Use a Decongestant: Consider taking a decongestant, either in oral or nasal form, before your flight if your doctor advises it. This can help alleviate nasal congestion and allergies, potentially preventing any blockages 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 probability of active pressure adjustement.
In-flight distractions and relaxation solutions
Refocusing one’s attention can be a very effective approach for dealing with tinnitus. Bring entertainment options like audiobooks, soothing playlists, or puzzles to keep your attention elsewhere. Meditation apps and breathing exercises can also help alleviate flight-related stress and reduce your awareness of tinnitus.
Prior to your trip, be sure to rest well and stay hydrated. Skipping caffeine or alcohol on travel day can also reduce ear-related symptoms. If you depend on hearing aids, think about wearing them during your flight – they can help recover a more natural hearing experience and potentially decrease the effect of any internal ringing or buzzing sounds.
Get professional advice if tinnitus disrupts travel
If you regularly experience discomfort while flying due to tinnitus, it is advisable to seek advice from a professional in hearing health. A comprehensive evaluation can determine the underlying cause of your tinnitus and result in targeted advice– including custom travel solutions or treatment options to manage flare-ups more effectively.
Arrange a consultation to evaluate your ringing in the ears symptoms now.