Montgomery 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. Stephen Bane of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, the eustachian tube is an important part of your sinuses.  

“The eustachian tube opens in the back of the nose for the sinuses to drain, so frequently people that have sinus issues also have eustachian tube issues,” Dr. Bane told Montgomery News. “Sinuses, allergies, and ear problems all go hand in hand, even asthma, is a continuum of those issues. Some people just have ear problems, some just have sinus problems, or just allergy problems. Some people have all of the above, so it really is a continuum and they go hand in hand. The same way we open the sinuses, we open 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 Capitol Breathe Free's website, Dr. Stephen Bane trained in general surgery at NYU and Bellevue Hospitals in New York. He has been practicing in Woodbridge and has been on staff at Potomac Hospital/Sentara Northern VA Medical Center since 1997. He has served as Chairman of the OR Committee, ENT Section Chief, and Medical Executive Committee, and is currently the Chairman of the Surgical Department. Dr. Bane was recognized as one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2020.