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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Question: &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;Why Won&amp;amp;#39;t My Ears Pop?&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;We were driving down the canyon after a hiking trip when my son started complaining of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/otalgia-and-ear-pain-1191949&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ear pain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. &amp;amp;#34;Swallow,&amp;amp;#34; I told him -- which he did, with no success. By the time we got home, his ears had still not popped, and they hurt.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;When pressure changes are too rapid, and your ears don&amp;amp;#39;t pop, your ear drum can actually &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-causes-a-ruptured-ear-drum-1191968&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;rupture&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Why won&amp;amp;#39;t your ears pop?&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Answer: &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;When you ascend or descend rapidly by flying, diving, or driving up and down a steep mountain, the air in your middle ear space can sometimes have trouble adjusting to the pressure. Under normal circumstances, you should have the sensation of your ears popping as your middle ear adjusts to the ambient pressure (pressure of where you are). You can usually speed this process along by swallowing or yawning. If your ears cannot keep up with the pressure changes and don&amp;amp;#39;t pop, you can experience &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;M-0mplS2oI_Y0-Xwyo2F4w&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/managing-ear-pain-1192206&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ear pain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and even get a ruptured eardrum (also called &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/barotrauma-of-the-ear-1191884&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;barotrauma&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you feel pressure and/or pain in your ears and they won&amp;amp;#39;t pop, you may have an underlying ear disorder that is affecting the function of your &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-eustachian-tube-1192115&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;auditory (eustachian) tube&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. In my son&amp;amp;#39;s case, the inability to equalize the pressure was related to\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/diagnosis-and-treatment-for-fluid-in-the-ear-1192211&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fluid in the ear&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. The following problems can affect the ability of your ears to pop.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Fluid in the Ear&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fluid in the ear may prevent ears from popping as the thickened fluid blocks the auditory tube, which prevents fluid from draining into the back of the throat. Sometimes this is caused by infection. Another reason for retaining fluid in the ear is due to the enlargement of surrounding structures, such as the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-adenoids-1191866&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;adenoids&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;TOuGY3D1ckaFu2k3firyPw&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/causes-of-sinusitis-structural-abnormalities-1191983&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sinus tissue&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. If the auditory tube is being blocked by surrounding tissue, the removal of this tissue may also be necessary.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fluid in the ear is usually treated by the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/ear-tube-placement-in-adults-1192068&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;surgical insertion of synthetic ear tubes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, which allows the ear to drain and equalize pressure. &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;You should know that if you have ear tubes, you will not be able to have your ears pop.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; This is because the tube through your ear drum will automatically equalize pressure. \u00A0Other names for fluid in the ear include &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/serous-otitis-media-1192122&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;serous otitis media&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/fluid-in-the-ear-symptoms-1191907&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;glue ear&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;KOxlYfO4IF9VfHEvrVf36Q&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-middle-ear-infections-1192210&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;otitis media&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; with effusion.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Excessive Ear Wax&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Too much &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ear-wax-1192043&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ear wax (cerumen)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can also impair the function of your auditory tube. This doesn&amp;amp;#39;t mean you should run out and buy some &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/should-i-clean-my-ear-wax-1192172&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ear candles&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or stick a cotton swab down your ear, as this will likely just push the wax down further. This type of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/all-about-ear-wax-blockage-1192040&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ear wax blockage&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; needs to be removed by a professional, preferably an &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;xXY3orNXiyXp72BK_zi0ww&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-to-find-the-right-ear-nose-and-throat-doctor-1191853&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;16&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ear, nose and throat doctor&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. There are a few ways that your doctor can remove the wax, and it can be done in their office. Wax can be removed with special ear drops that dissolve the wax, by irrigation, or with a special instrument called a cerumen spoon, which the doctor uses to &amp;amp;#34;dig&amp;amp;#34; the wax out.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Congestion&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Too much &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;a-aGpW82PhdjCrV4_iUcxQ&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-phlegm-1192127&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;17&amp;quot;&amp;gt;mucus&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; can gum up your auditory tube and make it difficult to maintain the pressure in the middle ear space. Congestion related to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/diagnosing-and-treating-seasonal-allergies-1191816&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;18&amp;quot;&amp;gt;allergies&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0can be helped by taking a\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-decongestants-770588&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;19&amp;quot;&amp;gt;decongestant medication&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; before getting on an airplane or going on a road trip with elevation gain. A cold virus is also a common cause of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-congestion-1191889&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;20&amp;quot;&amp;gt;congestion&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, but if it lasts longer than about three weeks, you may be dealing with allergies or another condition that should be evaluated by a physician.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Patulous Eustachian Tube&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-patulous-eustachian-tube-1191972&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;21&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Patulous eustachian tube&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is a very rare disorder in which the auditory tube fails to close and remains open all of the time. Besides feeling as though your ears are plugged, symptoms of patulous eustachian tube include:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-tinnitus-causes-effects-and-treatment-1046499&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;22&amp;quot;&amp;gt;tinnitus&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;autophony (when your voice seems abnormally loud to you)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;hearing your own breathing.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Other Reasons Why Your Ears Won&amp;amp;#39;t Pop&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Other conditions that may be associated with &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;416ogDJHBqbQbs_jxIhW2g&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/about-auditory-eusctachian-tube-dysfunction-1191872&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;23&amp;quot;&amp;gt;auditory tube dysfunction&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; include &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-sinusitis-1191994&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;24&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sinusitis&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/nasal-polyps-83137&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;25&amp;quot;&amp;gt;nasal polyps&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/turbinates-types-purpose-and-disorders-1192107&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;26&amp;quot;&amp;gt;enlarged turbinates&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/understanding-tonsillitis-1191990&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;27&amp;quot;&amp;gt;tonsillitis&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If your ears do not pop and you feel as though they are clogged or you are experiencing &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;EKg8VSPI8oxvO5akYxwcSA&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-causes-ear-pain-1192208&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;28&amp;quot;&amp;gt;significant ear pain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, you should make an appointment with a qualified doctor. If you have symptoms of a ruptured ear drum, such as fluid or blood draining from the ear, &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;siK0YRD6u3McwZGbLnHE_w&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-causes-an-earache-1191885&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;29&amp;quot;&amp;gt;intense earache&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; followed by a pop and sudden relief of pain, or difficulty hearing, you should see a doctor immediately.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Ear Infections. Get Smart: When Antibiotics Don&amp;amp;#39;t Work. Accessed May 15, 2012 from: &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/ear-infection.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;30&amp;quot;&amp;gt;http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/ear-infection.html&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Medline Plus. Wax Blockage. Accessed May 15, 2012 from: &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000979.htm&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;31&amp;quot;&amp;gt;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000979.htm&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;New England Journal of Medicine. Patulous Eustachian Tube. Accessed: May 16, 2012 from &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm040779&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;32&amp;quot;&amp;gt;http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm040779&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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