barotitis externa
ear barotrauma
The physical damage to the ear caused by differences in pressure between the atmosphere and the auditory apparatus.(1) External ear barotrauma is caused by a build-up of earwax or tight-fitting scuba gear;
(2) Middle ear barotrauma is the most common, affects up to 30% of scuba divers and is due to insufficient equilibration of the middle ear;
(3) Inner ear barotrauma is pathogenetically similar to middle ear barotrauma, but much less common.