Jammer! Here?s another one!

Oh well...this just has "troll" written all over it, but hey what the hell,
I?m bored...

Natural tear in her ear drum? Isn?t that nature?s way of saying "stay out of
the water"?

OK, she may just be snorkling, and in that case the Pro-Ear might help. But
if we?re talking scuba here, I?d like to meet the physician that cleared her
for diving as well as the instructor who told her she could be certified.

JL

It does. My dive buddy has a similar condition and has used this mask with
great success....

R

I've sold about a dozen of them over the last few years and everyone
has been happy with them. They do make it easier to clear. Oceanic is
no longer selling the mask. It is actually patented and made by
another company which name escapes me. You may be able to still find
one in a store. I've sold out.

    Forget the mask.  There are significantly better alternatives.  Repairing the
perforation is the right solution.  If your friends perforation is very small, an
otolaryngologists may wish to observe the perforation over time to see if it will
close spontaneously.  From your post however, it would appear your friend has had
this affliction for some time.  In which case, an attempt would be made to patch a
cooperative patient's ear-drum right in the office.  The physician may touch the
edges of the eardrum with a chemical to stimulate growth, and then place a thin
paper patch on the eardrum.  Usually with closure of the tympanic membrane, her
hearing would improve for sure.  Several applications of a patch (maybe up to
three or four) may be required before the perforation closes completely.  If her
physician feels that a paper patch will not provide prompt or adequate closure of
the hole in the eardrum, or attempts with paper patching don't promote healing,
surgery will most likely be the only course of action.

    There are a variety of surgical techniques, but all basically place tissue across
the perforation allowing healing.  The name of the procedure is called
tympanoplasty.  Look it up on the WEB, you're sure to find tons of information on
this procedure.  Readers Digest version is, that surgery is typically quite
successful in closing the perforation permanently, and improving hearing.  It's
usually done on an outpatient basis.  Her doctor will advise her regarding the
proper management of a perforated eardrum, but in the meantime, diving is
definitely out of the question.

--
Randy F. Milak
~Q: What do you get when you combine a rec.scubian with oxygen?
A: An Oxymoron!~