LA Harbor News

• The eustachian tube links the middle ear to the upper part of the throat.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction can cause symptoms such as hearing difficulties, ringing in the ears, balance problems, ear discomfort resembling an infection, and a sensation of fullness or pressure in the ears.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction can result from various factors, including allergies, the common cold, the flu, or chronic acid reflux.

Eustachian tube dysfunction is a condition that affects the inner ear, causing hearing issues, ear pressure, and other related symptoms. According to Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free, eustachian tube dysfunction and sinusitis often go hand-in-hand.  

“Eustachian tube dysfunction and chronic sinusitis often coexist with one another,” Dr. Hershcovitch told the LA Harbor News. “The reason for that is that with chronic sinusitis the pathophysiology is inflammation. And bacterial overgrowth and infection of the mucosa in the sinus cavities around the openings and in the nasal cavity. This same mucosa that lines all the sinuses, the nasal cavity, and the back of the throat actually also lines the eustachian tube.”

According to Healthline, eustachian tubes are small tubes that run between your middle ears and the upper throat. They are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear, the part of the ear behind the eardrum. The eustachian tubes are usually closed except for when you chew, swallow, or yawn.

These passageways are small in size and can get plugged for a variety of reasons. Blocked eustachian tubes can cause pain, hearing difficulties, and a feeling of fullness in the ears. Such a phenomenon is referred to as eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), a relatively common condition. Depending on the cause, it may resolve on its own or through simple at-home treatment measures. Severe or recurring cases may require a visit to the doctor.

ETD frequently resolves on its own, but if symptoms last for more than two weeks, it's recommended to visit a doctor, according to Cleveland Clinic  At-home remedies to resolve ETD could include chewing gum, yawning, swallowing, or using a saline nasal spray. People whose ETD has been caused by allergies could clear up their symptoms by using an antihistamine or other over-the-counter medications. People whose ETD has been caused by an infection might be prescribed antibiotics.

If at-home remedies or medications do not resolve ETD, a doctor might recommend a surgical treatment. One option is eustachian tuboplasty, also known as eustachian tube balloon dilation. This surgery is relatively new and involves a doctor inserting a small balloon through the nasal passage into the eustachian tube and then inflating the balloon. The balloon remains inflated for about two minutes before the doctor deflates and removes it. Patients typically recover from this surgery within one day.

According to SoCal Breathe Free's website, Dr. Matt Hershcovitch earned his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He attended medical school at the State University of New York. Hershcovitch completed his residency in head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and further specialized with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University.