Causes. The air pressure in the middle ear is most often the same as the air pressure outside of the body. The
A eustachian tube that is excessively open is called “patulous.” Frequently, the eardrum will pop inward and outward with each breath, like the plastic windows wrapped around a screened porch in the wintertime.
The most common cause of a blocked eustachian tube is a stuffy nose, such as from a head cold or sinus infection. When the nose is stuffed or clogged, it can prevent the eustachian tubes from draining or filling with air properly. A buildup of earwax is also a common cause of a blocked or obstructed eustachian tube.
The simplest reason for crackling noises in your ears is earwax. Too much earwax buildup in your ear canal may make “crackling” noises as you move your jaw. This may happen naturally.
The tubes help the ears drain fluid. They also keep air pressure in the ears at the right level. When you swallow or yawn, the tubes open briefly to let air in to make the pressure in the middle ears equal to the pressure outside of the ears.
Ear popping by itself is fine, as you are simply balancing the air pressure between the outside and inside your middle ear. However, ear popping can be unpleasant for some and should be investigated if accompanied by other, more severe symptoms.
Activities, such as yawning and chewing, are so near to your ears that though they are not really loud, they can still be damaging to your hearing. (But talking and chewing as well as yawning are not something we can stop doing, it's a good thing we have these little muscles.)
If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut.
By swallowing water or another drink your ears will pop, equalizing the pressure. A more intense method to pop your ears by swallowing is to pinch your nose closed. This creates a vacuum in your nose that helps your Eustachian tubes open. Chewing gum during pressure changes is also a common way to pop your ears.
What happens if eustachian tube dysfunction is left untreated? Chronic eustachian tube dysfunction has been linked to ear injuries and trauma. In rare cases, untreated ETD can cause hearing loss and permanent damage to your eardrum and middle ear. That's why prompt treatment is necessary.
A person can lie down or put their head between their knees. In these positions, tissues in the head swell temporarily, forcing the eustachian tube to close. If the cause of the condition is the eustachian tube drying out, some treatments may help.
Sometimes, your eustachian tubes can become blocked due to colds, allergies or infections. Clogged eustachian tubes may resolve on their own or with the use of decongestants, antibiotics or other medications.
Eustachian tube problems often clear up on their own or after treating the cause of the blockage. If your tubes continue to be blocked, you may need surgery.
Blocked eustachian tubes often get better on their own. You may be able to open the blocked tubes with a simple exercise. Close your mouth, hold your nose, and gently blow as if you are blowing your nose. Yawning and chewing gum also may help.
Allergies, head colds, pregnancy, and air pressure are some common reasons it may feel like your ears are full. Typically, plugged ears settle after a few days. Decongestants and nasal sprays are the best treatment for plugged ears that allergies and head colds cause.
Over about 2 weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out of your ear, especially at night when you're lying down.
It's a simple thing that we often don't think about, but this repetitive action can damage your ears. In severe cases, blowing your nose too hard can cause you an earache or even rupture your eardrum. The nose, ear, and mouth are connected.
Another way to do it is to get you to “pop” your ears on a more regular basis, about 20 times per day, often by closing your nostrils with your hand and blowing gently against that pressure. The pressure should help force the Eustachian tube to open a bit, draining pressure and any fluid that's in that space.
This can help to loosen anything that is physically blocking the ear, such as ear wax. All you need to do is turn the shower on to hot and sit in the steamy room for 10-15 minutes. A warm flannel over the ear can also help. Open up your Eustachian tubes.
Ear tubes might help children who have repeated, long-lasting ear infections, also known as chronic otitis media. Ear tubes also might help children who still have fluid buildup in the ear after an infection clears up. This is called otitis media with effusion. Most ear tubes are made to fall out in 4 to 18 months.
Your doctor may use a variety of techniques to diagnose patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction while viewing your ear drum (tympanic membrane). Your doctor may ask you to breathe deeply and swallow to see how the ear drum responds. Your doctor may also measure the pressure inside your ear using specialized tools.
What are the causes of Eustachian tube dysfunction? Colds, flus, sinus infections, or allergies can cause the Eustachian tube in one or both ears to become inflamed, preventing proper mucus drainage and leading to symptoms.
Most often, whatever the problem is will cause the eustachian tubes to stay shut when they should be opening. The result is eustachian tube dysfunction, which can also lead to hearing loss.