You've come to a good place if you ever wanted to equalize your ears. The Toynbee maneuver is a safe method to equalize ears. It doesn’t involve the Valsalva maneuver that is the common approach. Instead, it involves gently sucking in and out of the mouth. When you swallow, your hearing will change.
Swallowing equalizes eustachian tubes
The eustachian pipes are a series if passageways that connects the middle ear to either the nasopharynx (or back of the nose cavity). They open and close to equalize middle ear air pressure. Swallowing and chewing open the tubes, allowing air to enter the middle. The tubes that are blocked can prevent the middle ear from functioning properly and cause hearing loss.
A blocked eustachiantube can cause discomfort in the ears and even damage. This condition is often temporary and can usually be treated by treating the underlying cause (e.g. sinus infection or nasal congestion). You can use antibiotics or decongestants to treat the condition. Some cases may require surgery to restore normal function.
Valsalva maneuver doesn't equalize ears
There are several ways to equalize your ears, and one of them is the Valsalva maneuver. You pinch your nostrils and blow through your nose to equalize your ears. The excess throat pressure pushes air through Eustachian tube openings and pushes it through your nostrils. Although the Valsalva maneuver may not be as efficient as breathing through your mouth directly, it is still a useful tool.
A good way to equalize your ears is to squeeze your nostrils and blow into the sinuses. This is the easiest and most effective way to equalize you ears. Although this works well, avoid blowing too hard on your nose. It can cause more damage to your ears. Blowing too hard can cause damage to your ears and even break your round windows.
Toynbee maneuver safely equalizes ears
The Toynbee maneuver balances the pressure in your middle ear. Because the middle space is a dead zone, it must be equalized in order to match the pressures of the outer and inner ears. To do this, one should swallow and then gently pinch their nose. This can help reduce the pain that is caused by the middle ear pressure imbalance.
It is important to practice this maneuver to avoid locking the Eustachian tubules. These tissues can be damaged if too much pressure is applied. This is why you need to be familiar with the Toynbee maneuver.
Symptoms of improper equalization
It is important to use correct equalization techniques for free divers. Incorrect equalization techniques can result in inner ear barotrauma. The round window can burst if you use forceful Valsalva maneuvers. This happens when the eustachian pipes become blocked. The fluid will increase pressure and cause the round glass to burst. This can be dangerous and should prompt medical attention.
If you feel pain during equalization, stop immediately. Do not attempt to equalize too long as it can cause damage to the Eustachian tube. Instead, consider climbing just a few steps. If equalization is still painful you can lower yourself and continue the process. The Lowry technique, which combines both the Valsalva maneuver and the Toynbee maneuver, is recommended if pain persists. You can also pinch the nose and swallow to equalize your ears.