North Richmond Today

• Eustachian tubes are responsible for regulating ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) occurs when the tubes are obstructed, resulting in pain, hearing problems and a feeling of fullness in the ears
• Severe cases of ETD require treatment from a medical professional.

If you're struggling with eustachian tube dysfunction, you might be having symptoms that cause issues with your hearing. Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says the eustachian tubes play a crucial role in how well the ears are able to transmit sound.

"Eustachian tube dysfunction is dysfunction of the tube that expands from the middle ear to the back of the nose," Ditto told North Richmond Today. "Its function is to drain and equalize pressure behind the eardrum so that sound transmission is normal. That tube, the lining inside of it, has the same lining that's in your nose, so when you get a cold, your ears feel full."

According to Healthline, eustachian tubes are narrow passageways connecting the middle ears to the upper throat. Their primary role is to regulate ear pressure and facilitate the drainage of fluid from the middle ear, which is situated behind the eardrum. Typically, these tubes remain closed, except when you engage in actions like chewing, swallowing or yawning.

These passageways have a small diameter and can become obstructed by various factors. Blocked tubes can lead to hearing problems, ringing in the ears, balance issues, discomfort similar to an ear infection or a feeling of fullness in the ears, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This condition is called ETD, and it can be caused by sinus issues like allergies, a common cold, the flu or chronic acid reflux. The symptoms could get worse with altitude changes, such as on an airplane or while scuba diving.

ETD is a condition that occurs quite frequently, according to Healthline. Depending on its root cause, it may heal on its own or with certain home remedies home. In more severe or recurrent cases, however, doctors recommend seeking care form an ear, nose and throat (ENT) professional.

One trusted treatment doctors recommend is eustachian tuboplasty, also known as eustachian tube balloon dilation. The Cleveland Clinic describes the procedure as 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 the procedure within days and can resume their normal activities.

To see if you might be affected by ETD, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.