If you’ve ever visited a tropical location, then you might have had the opportunity to go scuba diving.
If you’ve never heard of it, scuba stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
Divers carry their own source of breathing gas, usually compressed air.
It allows them greater freedom of movement and to dive deeper without relying on coming back to the surface for air.
But are there any risks in wearing this equipment?
For example, could it cause tinnitus?
It is possible to get tinnitus from diving. Acute tinnitus can occur during or after going scuba diving. It can be related to ear barotrauma or inner ear DCS. You will need to visit a physician to determine if the cause of the tinnitus is one of these two ailments as the treatments for both are entirely different.
So there you have it.
Scuba diving can cause tinnitus.
But does that mean you should never go underwater and see the wonders of the sea?
Instead of canceling your plans, read on to learn more about scuba diving and tinnitus and how it can affect you and how you can avoid it.
How Can You Avoid Getting Tinnitus From Scuba Diving?
It is possible to reduce the chances of getting tinnitus while scuba diving.
Ear barotrauma can occur when pressure on the dive causes the volume of the gas-filled spaces in the ear to either contract or expand.
As the space change, the sensitive tissue in the ear become distorted.
This causes damage and can lead to tinnitus.
To avoid this, the gas spaces inside the ear must remain equalized.
The pressure difference only needs to be two psi.
If there is a difference of 5 psi, then it can cause the eardrum to rupture.
It doesn’t matter how deep you’re diving, the ear barotrauma can occur at any depth.
The most significant pressure change occurs in shallow water so that you can be most susceptible to damage to the ears in the first 14 feet of a descent.
You should remember from you’re training that you need to equalize early and often.
It’s not uncommon to change the pressure every few feet to prevent an imbalance.
Can Tinnitus From Scuba Diving Lead To Deafness?
It’s extremely rare to lose your hearing from diving permanently.
While you may experience temporary hearing loss from tinnitus or another type of damage to the ear, hearing often returns after some time.
If you are suffering from trauma to the ear and ignore the doctor’s orders of going back underwater, then you can increase your risk of losing your hearing permanently.
If you have undergone cochlear-implant surgery, ossicle surgery, or tympanic-membrane repair, then you should also avoid scuba diving altogether.
Anyone who has received these types of treatments would also be considered at risk of losing their hearing permanently due to the sensitivity of the ear from previous surgeries.
For anyone else who has perfect hearing and not suffering from any ear trauma, you should not have to worry about any possibility of losing your hearing if you were to go scuba diving.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Tinnitus After Scuba Diving?
If you’re suffering from tinnitus after a scuba dive, unfortunately, there is no set period of time when you expect the ringing or muffled sound to stop.
For most divers, provided they follow the instructions of the medical practitioner, the symptoms will go away within 16 to 48 hours.
There have been some extreme cases when hearing loss can occur and lead to tinnitus.
If this happens, then it can cause long-term issues.
But sadly, these symptoms can last for six months or more.
It can be commonly mistaken that you are going deaf or have another medical problem, but this is generally not the case.
The best way to recover is to avoid scuba diving again while you’re suffering from the condition and prevent any exposure to loud noises.
Both of these can trigger the ringing to occur.
Often most people will wear earplugs to protect their ears while they are recovering from tinnitus.
What Damage Can Tinnitus Do?
Only in extreme cases can tinnitus cause hearing loss, but this is very rare.
Most often, tinnitus is a symptom that is associated with many ear disorders and inner ear damage.
If the hair cells inside your inner ear are broken, bent, or otherwise damaged, they may spark random electrical impulses to your brain, causing the tinnitus to occur.
For most people who experience tinnitus they will also get examined for cardiovascular disease, allergies, anemia, and jaw disorders as these conditions can also lead to tinnitus.
If you do experience tinnitus after scuba diving, you should visit a medical practitioner and get an exam to ensure you get the all-clear.
This will then ensure that you can go diving again in the future.
Can Scuba Diving Cause Damage To Your Ears Besides Tinnitus?
It’s hard to get injured underwater unless it’s from another sea creature.
But this is often rare unless you’re scuba diving in dangerous waters.
Damage to the ears is the most common cause of injuries for regular divers.
The most common illnesses include:
Otitis Externa
Also known as swimmers ear, this is an external inflammation of the ear caused by an infection.
The moisture, coupled with the warmth of the body, can encourage the growth of microorganisms.
It can cause the ear canal to become inflamed and may partially close.
Barotitis Media
This is the most common injury reported by divers.
It can occur immediately after a dive, but it’s also known to happen days after being under the water.
It occurs when the diver descends, and the pressure causes an injury to the middle of the ear.
This increase can result in fluid and blood leaking into the middle ear.
Thankfully some drugs can heal it before you head out for your next dive.
Otitis Media
The symptoms of this injury can resemble middle ear barotrauma, but the treatment is different.
It often occurs when a diver attempts to unblock their ears.
The increase in pressure can cause loud tinnitus and temporary hearing loss.
Medical attention is recommended immediately, so it can be determined what type of damage has occurred to the ears.
Tympanic Membrane Rupture
This type of ear injury can occur in perforation or rupture of the tympanic membrane.
You don’t need to be too deep underwater for it to happen.
Divers will notice the injury immediately as they will feel pain and see bleeding from the ear.
If you notice any blood, then you should visit a medical practitioner urgently.
External Ear Canal Superficial Vessel Rupture
If you wear a hood while diving, then this injury might occur.
The overpressure from scuba diving can cause a blood vessel inside the external ear canal to burst and result in bleeding.
If you see any blood, then you should seek medical assistance immediately.
You should also continue to monitor for days after diving, as it’s not uncommon for bleeding to happen days after a dive.
Like any underwater activity, the body can react differently to the elements.
If anything doesn’t feel right then, you should stop diving immediately and seek medical help, especially if you notice any bleeding.
Ignoring any injuries can cause long-term damage.
Are You Guaranteed To Get Tinnitus If You Go Scuba Diving?
Tinnitus is a rare condition if you do go scuba diving.
If you follow your trainer’s instructions and equalize your pressure frequently, then you’ll avoid getting a ringing in your ear.
If you have suffered from ear damage in the past or have a cochlear implant, then you should avoid scuba diving altogether.
This is because your ear is already sensitive, and any additional pressure put on it by scuba diving can cause further damage.
If you do get tinnitus, it’s unlikely to last forever, and your hearing should return in hours.
It’s unlikely you’ll lose your hearing permanently, too, if you do happen to get tinnitus.
As it is so uncommon, you should experience scuba diving if it’s on offer at your holiday destination or in your local city or town.
Just be sure to take all the necessary precautions and if you’re still worried, check with a medical practitioner before you put your head underwater.
