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Ear barotrauma - Symptom

Alternative Names

Barotitis media; Barotrauma; Ear popping; Pressure-related ear pain; Eustachian tube dysfunction

Symptoms:

Dizziness
Ear discomfort or pain in one or both ears
Hearing loss (slight)
Sensation of fullness or stuffiness in the ears

If the condition is severe or prolonged:

Ear pain
Feeling of pressure in the ears (as if underwater)
Moderate to severe hearing loss
Nosebleed

Signs and tests:

During an inspection of the ear, the doctor may see a slight outward bulge or inward pull of the eardrum. If the condition is severe, there may be blood behind the eardrum.

Severe barotrauma may be difficult to tell apart from an ear infection.

Ear anatomy

Reviewed last on: 10/10/2008
Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, Denver, Colorado. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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