Holiday Travel Tip #7: Unplug Those Ears

If you're trying to hear properly aboard an aircraft, remember that the air pressure on both sides of your eardrum should be roughly equal. The problem is, with most airplanes, the rapid changes in cabin pressure throw that balance off, resulting in less-than-optimal hearing. To fix this condition, try chewing some sugar-free gum, swallowing, or opening your mouth to help open the eustachian tube, which is connected to your middle ear. There's also a great brand of earplugs called EarPlanes (pictured above) which seem to help even out the air pressure by blocking the ear canal. I've used them many times with great success.