How Is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Treated?

Posted on by Arizona Desert Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists

The Eustachian tubes are the passageways that connect your middle ears to the back of your throat. Their jobs are to allow fluid to drain from the middle ear as well as equalize air pressure between your middle ear and the environment. If your Eustachian tubes aren’t functioning correctly, you may be diagnosed with Eustachian tube dysfunction. Below we review how this condition is treated.

Types of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

There are several different types of Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), and the most common ones are:

  • Patulous ETD: This describes when your Eustachian tubes remain open, causing sound to travel from your nasal cavity to your ears, distorting the sound of your voice.
  • Obstructive ETD: This describes when your Eustachian tubes don’t open as they should, causing fluid to pool in the middle ear as well as pain and pressure to build in the ear.
  • Baro-challenge-induced ETD: This also describes when the Eustachian tubes don’t open properly, particularly when you experience changes in altitude.

Treatment for Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Fortunately, in many cases, ETD resolves itself. If it doesn’t, you can try the following methods:

Home Remedies

Some home remedies that can provide relief from ETD include:

  • Chewing gum.
  • Yawning.
  • Swallowing.
  • Doing the Valsalva maneuver (pinching your nose, closing your mouth and breathing out quickly).
  • Using saline spray to clear the nasal passages.

Medications

If home remedies don’t help, an over-the-counter medication from Melrose Pharmacy on Montecito Ave might. You can try:

  • Antihistamines (cetirizine or diphenhydramine).
  • Pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen).

A doctor may prescribe the following if none of the above options work:

  • Antibiotics.
  • Corticosteroids.

Surgery

In rare, severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct your ETD. Some surgical options include:

  • Myringotomy: For this procedure, an expert ENT physician makes a small incision in your eardrum to drain fluid from your middle ear.
  • Pressure equalization tubes: During this procedure, small ventilation tubes are placed in the eardrum to allow fluid to drain and air pressure to equalize. They typically fall out on their own within about a year. Most commonly, this procedure is performed on children.
  • Eustachian tuboplasty: This is a newer procedure wherein your Eustachian tubes are expanded with a tiny balloon.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Arizona Desert Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists today.