We Have Their Ear Health at Heart!

At the École oraliste de Québec pour enfants malentendants ou sourds, caring for the hearing health of our students involves a range of small daily actions and large administrative decisions. Sometimes a choice as simple as the location of a classroom can have real stakes.

Since our school is located in the heart of downtown Québec (René-Lévesque Boulevard), where there is a lot of traffic, we made an informed decision not to install classrooms at the front of the school. Instead, we set up the Fondation Sourdine and management offices there, as well as places less frequented by students. Most of our classrooms face the playground or a side road, where the noise level is much more tolerable.

We pay close attention to the hearing of all our students, whether they are deaf, have hearing loss or have a communication disorder, without deafness or hearing loss. During last summer's renovations, we made sure to choose new soundproof windows that improve the sound level inside the school.

There are no bells announcing the end of the period or recess. The children transition to their next activity according to the schedule, and we use a simple whistle outside to signal the end of recess. This approach was introduced to avoid overstimulating the children’s hearing or harming those in the process of programming their hearing aids or cochlear implants. The loudest sounds are reserved for the fire alarm. Strobe lights are also used to ensure everyone’s safety.

Our small ratios of four to six students per class are also a pedagogical choice that optimizes auditory concentration. We pay the same attention to the number of adults in the classroom, as overlapping voices can create confusion. In addition, we have placed tennis balls on the chair legs to minimize ambient noise. We are planning to switch out the tennis balls for more ergonomic felt covers.

Depending on student preference and tolerance, we have free-field systems (speakers) that amplify teachers’ voices during larger assemblies. Children are also encouraged to wear protective earmuffs at musical events, for example.

We are also fortunate to have an audiologist who comes directly to the school to work with our deaf students and students with hearing loss. The audiologist ensures the well-being of their hearing through preventive follow-ups and also offers advice and information to parents, children, and the school team on the importance of healthy hearing.

At the École oraliste de Québec pour enfants malentendants ou sourds, we do our utmost to provide our students with an environment that is conducive to their development.

Isabelle Savage Executive Director École oraliste de Québec pour enfants malentendants ou sourds

Ear Pressure

Everyone has felt pressure in their ears at some point: that feeling as though your ears are suddenly plugged, as if air has entered the ear canal and inadvertently gotten stuck in there for a few seconds or even a few minutes.

Pressure in the ears is not a serious condition, and it usually goes away quickly. However, persistent pressure may be a sign of another problem.

Let’s explore this strange sensation in our ears!

All About Balance

Ear pressure is generally caused by an imbalance in air pressure in the middle ear. When this happens, the tympanic membrane bends slightly inward or outward, causing discomfort or even pain.

More specifically, pressure is felt when the Eustachian tube is unable to maintain equal air pressure on both sides of the eardrum.

The Eustachian tube is a tube that connects the middle ear to the nose (nasopharynx). When it is working properly, the Eustachian tube is closed at rest and quickly opens with any mouth movement (yawning, swallowing, speaking) to equalize the air pressure in the middle ear and outer ear.

Why Ears Get Plugged on Flights

Most people are familiar with this phenomenon when it occurs during takeoff and landing. Here’s an overview of what is actually happening in your ears:

The middle ear is a cavity filled with air. The air pressure inside the ear is normally the same as that of the external environment.

As the plane gains altitude, the external atmospheric pressure decreases. The outside air pressure becomes lower than the air pressure inside the ear. The air must then gradually escape from the ear via the Eustachian tube.

As the plane descends and loses altitude, the external atmospheric pressure gradually rises. This means air must enter the inner ear to balance out the pressure difference.

When the changes in air pressure are too sudden, the natural mechanisms of the Eustachian tube don’t always happen in time. As a result, we must compensate for these abrupt pressure changes to avoid potentially serious and painful eardrum injuries.

Several techniques can be used to balance out the pressure in your ears, such as swallowing, chewing gum, or closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and pushing air into your nostrils. This last technique is called the Valsalva manœuvre, which is relatively traumatic for tissues, particularly the eardrums. That’s why we don’t recommend performing this manoeuvre too frequently or too intensely, especially for people who haven’t fully mastered it.

Persistent Pressure

It’s important to note that conditions such as colds, allergies, and otitis can cause the membranes covering the Eustachian tube to swell. This makes equalizing the pressure more difficult.

If the pressure persists for several days, you should consult a health care professional. If the sensation of plugged ears doesn’t go away, it’s important to check whether the auditory canal is inflamed or obstructed, even if it’s not painful. You may also want to consult a professional if you’re experiencing symptoms like tinnitus or vertigo.

To learn more about ear pressure, consult a hearing health professional.

Roxanne Gravel-Bélair Audioprosthetist practicing in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts