Why do my ears ring on the plane? An audiologist explains

Traveling to your next destination is always something to look forward to—especially if you’ve booked a luxurious hotel or have a new carry-on bag to show off. But if there’s anything worse than sitting on a plane with limited legroom or bumpy turbulence, it’s “plane ear.”

Airplane ear, medically known as “auricular barotrauma,” is the painful ringing in the ear that sometimes occurs when boarding or disembarking an airplane. (So if you’ve ever wondered, “Why do my ears ring on an airplane?”, this is the answer.)

However, most people who experience the annoying feeling know that avian ear can be more than just a minor inconvenience. In some cases, it can completely destroy your eardrums. While for some it goes away quickly, for others it leaves them with persistent pain in their ears that takes hours to go away.

To ensure that you do not experience any discomfort while flying, audiologist Sarah Lundstrom explains more about airplane ears and how you can prevent ear pain on your next flight.

Experts featured in this article

Sarah Lundstrom is an audiologist and member of the American Academy of Audiology, the Florida Academy of Audiology, and the American Board of Audiology. She is also a physician at HearCare Audiology.

What is airplane ear?

Also known as ear barotrauma, airplane ear occurs when “the ear becomes blocked due to pressure changes while flying,” explains Dr. Lundstrom. Although most cases of airplane ear resolve on their own after the plane lands, it can be painful for those who already have an ear infection or are sensitive to ear pressure, she adds.

The good news is that while fear of flying may cause some discomfort, it won’t cause your eardrum to rupture completely. In fact, Dr. Lundstrom says a ruptured eardrum is “very unlikely.” But if it feels more than just uncomfortable, there are some preventative steps you can take to avoid developing a fear of flying on your next flight.

Why are my ears ringing on the plane?

The reason for ear pain on airplanes is the change in air pressure. “When the external air pressure changes, such as in an airplane or when diving, the eardrum presses inward and the Eustachian tube closes,” explains Dr. Lundstrom. “This causes pressure to build up in the middle ear, which can become painful.”

However, this doesn’t just happen on an airplane. As Dr. Lundstrom mentioned, you can also feel this pain in the ear while scuba diving or even in an elevator with multiple floors.

How to prevent earache on the plane

To combat the dreaded airplane ear, you have a few options. According to Dr. Lundstrom, you can chew gum or suck hard candy during the flight to “keep the middle ear and Eustachian tube moving and open,” she says. However, if you don’t have gum or hard candy with you right now, don’t panic. “During the flight, you can also try swallowing, yawning, or holding your nose and blowing out air to open your Eustachian tube and relieve the pressure,” Dr. Lundstrom adds.

If those remedies don’t help, Dr. Lundstrom recommends taking a decongestant like Sudafed Sinus Congestion ($13) or Mucinex Sinus-Max ($11) before your next flight. “These can help reduce fluid or swelling so there’s more room and less pressure inside,” she adds.

Ultimately, airplane ear doesn’t have to completely ruin the start of your vacation. By treating your symptoms with Dr. Lundstrom’s advice, you can focus less on the pain in your ear and more on the important things: what you wear, what you eat, and what you post on Instagram.

Taylor Andrews is a Balance Editor at PS, specializing in topics related to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, and more.