In Reply to: Freedive equalization posted by Walt on November 24, 2005 at 22:33:28:

Thank you, Walt. I checked Toynbee by google and found the following site also very helpful:

http://faculty.washington.edu/ekay/MEbaro.html#Toynbee

This is the summary from the site, following the detailed description of various methods:

* Eustachian tube awareness should be taught to all divers.

* New divers should always use pressurization to prevent middle ear barotrauma.

* Watch the tissues of the nose balloon out as inflation pressure increases during pressurization maneuvers. Assessing the adequacy of inflation effort will help to identify the causes of equalization problems.

* Listen for the crackle and pop of the Eustachian Tube opening (during swallowing) as this will help train your ears for advanced techniques.

* Practice bobbing your "Adams Apple" to perfect the Frenzel Maneuver, and teach others this technique.

* If middle ear barotrauma does occurs, discontinue diving immediately. If symptoms are mild, they should subside within 1-2 weeks. When equalization ability is back to normal, no abnormal sounds or crackles are present in the
middle ears and hearing is normal, a diver can return safely to the water. If there is any question, a medical opinion should be obtained.

* Decongestants never help when cold or trauma symptoms are present, but at the very end of a cold, when just a little minor stuffiness remains, the occasional use of an inhaled decongestant like Afrin (oxymetazalone) spray will do no harm and may help.

* Never use a nasal decongestant spray more than three consecutive days whether diving or not, and if symptoms are severe or prolonged, medical evaluation is advisable.