Eustachian Tube Dilation
Do you have clogged ears and ear pressure? Eustachian tube balloon dilation is a new treatment option that could provide you with lasting relief. If you’re experiencing clogged ears, muffled hearing, or dizziness, you may be suffering from Chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.
What is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?
The Eustachian tube is a small connection/tube that connects the middle ear space to the back of the nose (nasopharynx). This tubes opens and closes to “pop” the ears, something typically done by people with changes in altitude such as flying in a plane. When functioning normally, it is a closed tube that opens when we swallow, yawn or chew. The eustachian tube exists to protect the middle ear from disease, to ventilate the middle ear, and to help secretions away from the middle ear. Eustachian tube dysfunction is anything leading to failure of this tube from opening or closing in its normal fashion. Eustachian tube dysfunction is a common medical issue, occurring in at least 5% of the adult population. With ETD, air cannot then get into the middle ear. Therefore, the air pressure on the outer side of the eardrum becomes greater than the air pressure on the inner side of the eardrum. The difference in pressure may cause discomfort, and make sharp hearing difficult. These conditions are often what cause patients to seek Eustachian tube balloon dilation surgery. Eustachian tube dysfunction can lead to impaired quality of life due to persistent sensation of ear fullness, ear pain, and inability to tolerate air travel or scuba diving. Over time, eustachian tube dysfunction can lead to conductive hearing loss and cholesteatoma formation. The eustachian tube is the structure that links the nose and the middle ear.
Symptoms Of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
- Hearing loss
- Ear Pressure or fullness
- Muffled Hearing
- Middle ear fluid
- Hearing Loss (conductive)
- Ear pain
- Negative middle ear pressure
- Chronic ear drainage
- Popping or clicking sensation
- Ringing in your ears called Tinnitus
- Issues with Balance
- Symptoms worsen with flying or changes in elevation
- Hearing loss
- Ear Pressure or fullness
- Muffled Hearing
- Middle ear fluid
- Hearing Loss (conductive)
- Ear pain
- Negative middle ear pressure
- Chronic ear drainage
- Popping or clicking sensation
- Ringing in your ears called Tinnitus
- Issues with Balance
- Symptoms worsen with flying or changes in elevation
Complications of untreated Eustachian tube Dysfunction
- Otitis Media
- Damage to the middle ear
- Damage to the eardrum
- Perforation of the eardrum
- Cholesteatoma formation
- Collapse of the eardrum into the middle ear
What Causes Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Excess mucus production
- Inflammation around the Eustachian Tube
- Allergies
- Sinus infections
- Flu
- Cold
- Heartburn
- Narrowed normal anatomy
Diagnosis
Our expert providers, will conduct a detailed patient history with a physical examination. They might look at your nasal cavity with a small scope. Additional testing, such as allergy testing, a CT scan, or an MRI, may also be ordered to confirm the diagnosis of the Eustachian tube dysfunction. Additionally, all of our patients will have a comprehensive hearing test to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Medical Therapy
The treatment of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction will depend on the causes in your specific case. Our providers will customize an individualized treatment plan. This will likely be a combination of medications, minimally invasive procedures or other interventions after you have had a comprehensive evaluation, to ensure we treat your specific underlying causes. Often this will include topical therapy such as nasal sprays, nasal rinses, heartburn medication, or even allergy testing.
Our Physicians use balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube for chronic eustachian tube dysfunction sufferers.