Middle ear squeeze results from an upper respiratory tract infection or allergies. Common symptoms include ear pain and occasionally, temporary hearing loss. Treatments vary upon the findings made by a physician. Inner Ear Barotrauma Inner ear barotrauma is the result of unsuccessful attempts or failure to equalize the inner ear during a dive. Under these conditions, a reverse block can occur, as well as a rupture of the ear drum.
Most patients recover spontaneously.
Complaints from the diver include chest pains or tightness, sometimes associated with swelling and a crackling sound in the neck. These conditions usually subside with the administration of 100 percent oxygen. As already mentioned, a rapid ascent from depth or a stay at depth beyond established no decompression limits may result in accumulation of access tissue nitrogen. If return to surface pressures is too rapid, nitrogen bubbles may form in body tissues. Decompression sickness results when bubbles obstruct arteries and veins or cause a mechanical distortion of body tissues.