Why do our ears hurt when the pressure changes on an airplane?

Our ears are particularly sensitive to changes in pressure due to the variations in altitude that occur when we ride in an airplane, go deep-sea diving, or pass through a tunnel in a high-speed train, for example.

This change in pressure can result in feelings of ear compression or even sharp pain, especially among children who haven’t yet learned how to rebalance the pressure in their inner and outer ears. The most common way to rebalance this pressure is to chew and swallow, which stimulates use of the Eustachian tube—but this method does not work for very small children. A cold or nose congestion can aggravate the pain or discomfort.

To help alleviate this condition, Quies has developed two types of earplugs: earPlanes® for adults and earPlanes® for children. earPlanes® for children are designed for children’s narrow ear canals. They are bright yellow and have a fun shape, making it easy for parents to make using the earplugs into a game children will want to play.