How Air Travel Can Affect Tinnitus

Could you imagine dealing with a constant ringing in your ear? It is estimated that up to 1 in 7 people will experience tinnitus at some point in their life.

Tinnitus can occur in one ear, or both. The noises experienced can vary and there may be more than one sound. Some of the noises people report hearing are ringing, buzzing, humming, whistling, or hissing. The sound may appear to come from inside the head, from one ear or both.

While long term exposure to loud noise can be a cause of tinnitus, the truth is that tinnitus has many causes. People of any profession, background, gender, or age can suffer from the condition. 

Many people report that air travel can impact their tinnitus so we’ve put together ways to manage symptoms when taking a plane journey. We recently got an email from a member of our community who had just been travelling and thought a blog on this topic would be helpful for himself and for others.

Air Travel and Hearing

The hearing function of the ear is reliant on a series of steps which involves converting sound waves into electrical signals for the brain to process. The ear consists of three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.

The ear canal, located in the outer ear, directs sound waves to the eardrum where the middle ear then takes over. The middle ear is linked to the back of your throat by the Eustachian tube and is an airtight cavity. The Eustachian tube is basically a valve that opens and closes. 

When flying, pressure is disrupted and the Eustachian tube doesn’t react quick enough. We then experience the feeling of pressure inside the ear and sound may become muffled due to the limited movement of the eardrum. When the Eustachian tube reacts, we get the sensation of our ears popping due to the pressure releasing from the middle ear.

Why Does Flying Impact Tinnitus

There is a possibility that tinnitus can be heightened if the Eustachian tube fails to do its job due to Eustachian tube dysfunction, this tends to be short lived for most.

The “popping” feeling when flying can be painful in some extreme cases. When this happens it can be due to a rapid descent during the flight, which isn’t common in itself.

Those with permanent tinnitus are not likely to experience any changes in their tinnitus when flying. For those that do, it should only be temporary. We would recommend that you seek the advice of a medical or hearing professional if you are experiencing prolonged effects after a flight. 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus but there are ways to manage it. 

Tips for Managing Tinnitus While Flying

Sit Near the Front of Plane

A pilot from JetBlue was interviewed and asked which would be the quietest seat on an airplane. The pilot explained that since the engines are located under the wings, passengers will want to sit forward of them in order to reduce the amount of noise. This does not necessarily mean you have to be in first class, you just need to try to get a seat in front of the wings. This is an important tip to keep in mind the next time you are booking your seat on a flight. 

SeatGuru is a website which shows the seating arrangement for around 700 flights and can be used to find which areas will be the quietest on a flight.

Sit in an Aisle Seat

The pilot from JetBlue also points out that you want to be seated in an aisle seat rather than a window one to reduce the amount of noise you hear from the plane. The window seats are closer to the skin of the aircraft and therefore end up being a louder seat. 

A study from Istanbul University looked at the amount of noise passengers hear while on the airplane and found that an aisle seat is four decibels quieter than a window seat, that’s over 50% less noise in terms of what you can hear.

Sound Therapy

If you are suffering from tinnitus, trying to take your focus away from it can help you relax and hopefully improve your flight. Meditating, listening to gentle music, or the SoundRelief app can be a great distraction from tinnitus and can help you reduce stress. 

Airlines sometimes provide passengers with headphones and different music options to listen to. Watching an in-flight film can also be a way to try and take the focus away from your tinnitus. The purpose of these distractions is to try and reduce the stress and anxiety you may feel while flying. This could then actually help to lessen the effects of your tinnitus.

Swallow and Yawn 

While on a flight, a way to temporarily reduce the effects of tinnitus would be to try and swallow and yawn as much as possible while on the flight. Swallowing and yawning will hopefully lead to your ears popping which means the air pressure is normalised. Chewing gum or sucking on a hard boiled sweet will help you swallow more, and will hopefully lead to your ears popping and a more comfortable flight.

Don’t Travel while Sick

Flying while sick can make it more difficult for your ears to pop. This can end up leading to an uncomfortable flight as your ears have a tougher time equalising the air pressure in the cabin. A nasal decongestant can be used in order to try and reduce the effects of your cold and improve the chance for your ears to release the pressure. 

Do you have any travel tips to share with us? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or email info@lios-group.com.