Anyone who has flown, driven in the mountains, gone scuba diving, used a high-speed elevator, or had an upper respiratory or ear infection likely has dealt with annoying, uncomfortable imbalances in ear pressure. When the eustachian tubes in one or both ears become blocked due to pressure changes caused by an increase or decrease in altitude, changes in weather, or swelling or fluid retention due to infections or allergies, it causes the ear drum to be drawn inward, sometimes to the point of pain. The pressure imbalance can also cause headaches and dizziness in addition to discomfort in the ear. Most of the time, however, the negative pressure on the ear drum impedes its ability to send sound waves to the inner ear, leading to muffled hearing as well as discomfort.

Some home remedies for occasional ear popping include chewing gum; sucking on a piece of hard candy; or taking an over- the-counter antihistamine or decongestant if the pressure is caused by allergies or a cold. Others have reported relief from warm salt water gargles, or by pinching the nostrils closed and exhaling until the pressure equalizes. All these options help to open the eustachian tubes and allow drainage of fluids trapped in the middle ear.  Chronic problems with maintaining equilibrium may lead to a more serious condition called barotrauma that permanently damages the ear drum. When over-the-counter and home remedies fail to provide relief, it may be time to call in the EarPopper from Summit Medical.

  

Rehabmart carries the EarPopper and the EarPopper Pro. The EarPopper  does require a prescription, but it is suitable for use at home.  It resembles a large bottle of nose spray, only it blows a jet of air into the eustachian tubes via the sinuses. The user inserts the nozzle into his or her nose, and then presses the button to deliver the air stream into the sinus cavity as he or she swallows. The burst of air opens the eustachian tubes, allowing drainage of trapped fluids and balancing the pressure, giving the user drug-free, noninvasive relief.

 

The EarPopper Pro is intended for use by a health care professional to treat pressure imbalances.    It works on the same principles as the EarPopper, and may prevent or eliminate middle ear imbalances and eustachian tube blockages, allowing the fluid to drain naturally and avoid infections and discomfort. Most situational conditions can be relieved or eliminated in just one or two office visits. The Pro operates using a 9-volt battery and comes with a pack of disposable tips. Replacement tips are available separately.

For the last 120 years, Politzeration, or the use of air to open eustachian tubes, has been in use to help treat ear pressure problems. It's safe and effective for both children and adults, and peer reviewed studies published in the Journal of Audiology and ENT Journal support the claim. Further clinical evidence comes from a study funded by the National Institutes of Health that reports that the EarPopper restored hearing to normal limits in 85% of the children who participated.

The EarPopper is the only FDA approved and clinically proven device for regulating ear pressure and is used by health care practitioners around the world, restoring hearing and relieving pressure buildup one treatment at a time.

Fran Jablway,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO