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If your ears pop on a plane or while diving, the problem will usually right itself when you're back on land.  Even if the pressure doesn't equalize right away, after an hour or two your ears should feel normal again. In the meantime, yawning and swallowing can help you feel better faster. Some people take a few days for pressure to equalize in their ears, during which time hearing can be muffled, although this is rather rare. Get medical attention if the discomfort is severe, or if it persists for more than a day. Severe barotrauma is rare, but can cause permanent ear damage and bring about hearing loss. In very severe cases, barotrauma can cause the inner ear to rupture. This injury usually heals on its own, but you should see a doctor just in case there's another problem complicating the injury. If you experience any of the following symptoms that might indicate your inner ear has ruptured, get medical attention immediately:  Discomfort or pain that persists for several hours Severe pain Bleeding from the ears Hearing loss that doesn't go away In rare cases, surgery is required to restore equilibrium inside the ear. An incision is made in the eardrum to allow pressure and fluid to drain. If you experience severe pain that doesn't go away, see a doctor to determine whether surgery may be necessary. In the meantime, do not fly, dive, or perform any other activity that requires you to gain or lose significant altitude. If your ears pop again further injury could occur.
Wait for equilibrium to be restored. Look out for severe symptoms. Get treatment if the barotrauma persists.