FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – According to data published in the journal Jama Otolaryngoly-Head and Neck Surgery, an estimated 11 million Americans are impacted by a Eustachian tube dysfunction, a painful condition that can affect hearing.
There are several known causes and treatments.
Going back to early childhood, Fort Lauderdale resident Dean Weston started having problems with his ears.
“I would recall having major pain and pressure in my ear and it would usually result in me getting some type of sinus infection or sore throat,” Weston said.
From the time he was a toddler to well into his teens and beyond, Weston underwent multiple surgeries to place tubes in his ears to ease the pain and pressure.
“My life kind of revolved around my ear problems,” Weston said.
Otolaryngologist Dr. Ariel Grobman said Eustachian tube dysfunction is more common in childhood but can also happen later in life.
“The Eustachian tube is a small passageway that connects the back of the nose to the ar, and it opens and closes to allow air into our ears,” Grobman said.
Allergies and infections, like the common cold and flu, can cause inflammation and mucus buildup leading to blockage of the Eustachian tube.
Acid reflux, which can cause stomach acid to back up into the throat can also be a culprit.
And Grobman said people who fly or dive a lot are also at greater risk.
He said the treatment approach depends on the severity of the condition.
“That can range from over-the-counter allergy medications such as nasal sprays as well as allergy pills to prescription steroid pills to reduce swelling, prescription strength nasal rinses that deliver anti-inflammatory medication to the Eustachian tube opening at the back of the nose,” he said.
Grobman said there are newer, minimally invasive surgical options that allow specialists to open the blocked area.
After undergoing the procedure last year, Weston is flying high again.
“It’s been a year since the procedure and I don’t have an ear tube. I don’t have a ton of pressure or pain in my ear, haven’t had any sinus infections,” he said. “I never thought this was something I wouldn’t have to worry about in my life and it’s great here we are.”
Warning signs of Eustachian tube dysfunction include hearing problems, ringing in the ears, balance problems and pain that mimic an ear infection.
In rare cases, it can cause hearing loss and permanent damage to your eardrum and middle ear.