Hi guys. Cliff Olson,
Doctor of Audiology and founder of Applied Hearing Solutions in Phoenix, Arizona,
and in this video I'm gonna teach you everything you need to know about
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and how to fix it. Coming up
The eustachian tube,
just like the name is a hollow tube that connects your middle ear space with
your throat.
The primary responsibility of the eustachian tube is to equalize your middle ear
air pressure,
but it also helps to remove fluid secretions as well as epithelial tissue from
your middle ear space.
The eustachian tube was named after the Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachio,
who lived from 1510 to 1574. In adults,
the eustachian tube is approximately 36 millimeters in length and is on a
45 degree angle from your ear down to your throat. In children,
the eustachian tube is much shorter at approximately 18 millimeters in length
with an angle of only around 10 degrees. In fact,
this is the reason why children often have more issues with fluid buildup in
their middle airspace because it is harder for this fluid to drain out through
the eustachian tube. At this shallow or angle.
A properly functioning eustachian tube will open and close regularly when you
swallow or yawn,
allowing some air to get into your middle airspace or some air or fluid to
escape your middle airspace.
Maintaining neutral middle ear air pressure you station tube dysfunction,
otherwise known as "ETD",
is when this tube does not open and or close properly causing a variety of
different issues that negatively impact your ears.
The symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction can include hearing loss, tinnitus,
ear pain, ear fullness, dizziness or vertigo,
clicking or popping sounds,
or the auditory and physical perception of your own breathing.
Technically speaking,
there are three different types of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction,
but before I explain what these three different types are,
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Now let's take a look at the first type of eustachian tube dysfunction called
ulus et d ulus. Eustachian tube dysfunction,
otherwise known as a patent utian tube occurs when your e tube does not
close. This can be caused by a variety of things,
which include excessive gum chewing, overuse of nasal decongestants,
rapid weight loss, hormone changes,
radiation therapy to the head or neck area, or even dehydration.
I've experienced this myself racing in a triathlon in the middle of the hot
summer when I got so dehydrated that my eustachian tube remained open,
so every single time I took a breath,
I could feel my eardrum moving and I could even hear it moving. Sometimes a
patent eustachian tube can be remedied by drinking more water,
avoiding caffeine or nasal decongestants,
or actually taking a medicated nasal spray or undergoing surgery.
While patless eustachian tube dysfunction typically does not hurt,
it is extremely annoying. However,
the second type of utian tube dysfunction called obstructive ETD can be
painful.
This type of utian tube dysfunction occurs when your eustachian tube cannot open
properly and can be caused by things like allergies, cold symptoms,
inflammation, or even an ear infection.
This can result in fluid buildup inside of the middle ear space as well as a
significant negative or positive middle ear air pressure. When this happens,
it often puts pressure on the eardrum, which can result in pain.
In extreme cases, this can even rupture your eardrum.
Sometimes using natural pressure equalization techniques can force the utian
tube open for just long enough to equalize the middle ear air pressure,
which can often alleviate the pain. Now,
if you would like to see me demonstrate some of these natural techniques,
I will link this video down in the description.
Some other forms of treatment for obstructive utian tube dysfunction can include
antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, as well as antibiotics.
In some cases of chronic obstructive utian tube dysfunction,
none of these natural techniques or medications will work,
and you may have to get pressure equalization tubes instead.
Pressure equalization tubes, also known as PE tubes,
are tubes that are surgically inserted into your eardrum to equalize pressure
and drain any fluid from your middle ear space.
It is much more common for pressure equalization tubes to be used on children,
but they are an effective treatment option for adults with chronic obstructive
uust tube dysfunction as well.
Once this pressure equalization tube is properly installed inside of your
eardrum,
it will naturally work its way out over the course of time. Usually after this
eustachian tube dysfunction has been resolved. In some cases,
your Doctor may even recommend a procedure called Eustachian Tuboplasty,
which is when they insert a balloon into your Eustachian tube.
They inflate that balloon to stretch the tissues, remove the balloon,
and it allows your Eustachian tube to open and close naturally. Again,
which treatment option you choose to go with should be decided between you and
your doctor. Now if you're lucky,
you'll have the third form of Eustachian tube dysfunction,
which is called barrow challenge induced ETD.
This one is very similar to obstructive ETD where your Eustachian tube will not
open properly, but this one is only a result of altitude change.
Think back to the last time that you flew in an airplane or the last time that
you drove in a car through the mountains.
This required you use station tube to open and close to equalize the middle your
air pressure when you were ascending an altitude or descending an altitude. If
your eustachian tubes are opening and closing properly when changing altitude,
then you would've heard your ears popping and probably even felt them popping.
However, if they did not pop, you probably would've experienced pain.
This is caused by significant pressure exerted on your eardrum because your ears
can't regulate the middle ear air pressure due to the UST tube dysfunction. Now,
if this is the only time that you experience Eustachian tube dysfunction,
then you should really get comfortable doing some of these natural pressure
equalization techniques like the Valsalva Maneuver or the Lowry Method.
These techniques will allow you to force air through your eustachian tube into
your middle ear air cavity, equalizing the pressure and getting rid of the pain.
If those natural methods do not work on you,
you may want to consider investing in a tool like the Eustachi, the Ear Popper,
or even the Otovent,
and I will link those products down in the description of this video as well as
instruction videos for you to watch. I will never fly in another plane without
at least one of these tools with me just in case I have problems popping my ears
when I'm flying. Now, if you're watching this video,
chances are you've already experienced eustachian tube dysfunction and you know
that it can cause a lot of pain and annoyance,
and if you have not experienced it yet,
get ready because at some point in your life, you probably will. Yeah,
at the end of the day, you station tube dysfunction sucks,
but there are things that you can do to help prevent the pain that is caused by
you station tube dysfunction.
You just have to work with your doctor to find out what the best treatment
options are. That's it for this video. If you have any questions,
leave them the comment section below. If you like the video, please share it.
If you wanna see other videos just like this one,
go ahead and hit that subscribe button. Also, feel free to check on my website,
DrCliffAuD.com.