Chronic dysfunction of the eustachian tube

Presenting complaints include hearing loss, persistent pain, or “clicking” in the ear. Patients must allow time for treatment (if required) to take effect.

Health-care providers working in primary care, allergy, pediatrics, and otolaryngology frequently encounter both acute and chronic eustachian-tube dysfunction (ETD). This common condition can be challenging to treat, particularly in patients with a lifelong history of ETD. A properly functioning eustachian tube allows gas diffusion which equalizes middle-ear pressure with that of the environment. An improperly functioning eustachian tube can result in negative middle-ear pressure. Left untreated, this condition may lead to complaints of hearing loss, tinnitus, otalgia, vertigo (and subsequent tympanic membrane atelectasis), fulminate cholesteatoma formation, and otitis media...[ClinicalAdvisor]