Why do my ears pop every time I yawn?

Something is wrong with my ears!?

• Okay, I have had ear problems sense I was young. Usually when people yawn there ears go back to normal, when I yawn, my ears pop. I don't even have to be on an air plane or under water or anywhere for my ears to pop! They pop randomly all the time! I love singing and I've been told I'm pretty good, but whenever I sing my ears pop making it almost impossible to ear myself, and not to mention how uncomfortable it is. I don't have good hearing either. Then When my ears are popped, all I have to do is sniff and it goes away, but sometimes it won't. I mostly just want this to stop because I can't sing if this keeps happening.

• Answer:

  My son has the same problem and it is caused by fluid behind the eardrums (no infection) which usually drains out for most people. It can also be called eustachian tube dysfunction. He uses decongestants when it is really bad but otherwise holds his nose shut and swallows hard or puffs his cheeks out with the nose plugged...or whatever works for you. His doctor said that if it continued he may need tubes in his ears to help the fluid drain better but it has not come to that yet.