South Indy News

• Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run between your middle ears and upper throat.
• Blocked eustachian tubes can cause pain, hearing difficulties and a feeling of fullness in the ears.
• One possible treatment for eustachian tube dysfunction is balloon dilation.

Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center says sinus infections can lead to blockage in the eustachian tubes, which can cause pain, a feeling of fullness and even temporary hearing loss.

"People who suffer from eustachian tube dysfunction have one or more of several symptoms," Sanders told South Indy News. "These include ear fullness, inability to pop your ears easily when flying on an airplane or driving through hills, getting recurrent middle ear infections or ear effusions with hearing loss and pressure or fullness."

Sinus infections can cause blockage in the eustachian tube, which can lead to temporary hearing loss or a sensation of being "underwater" or wearing earplugs.

The eustachian tubes are usually closed, except when you chew, swallow or yawn, according to Healthline. Eustachian tubes are also responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear behind the eardrum. 

Since eustachian tubes are small, they can get blocked easily, leading to eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), which is common and often can heal on its own or with home remedies, such as chewing gum, yawning or using a saline nasal spray. 

In more severe cases, however, a visit to the doctor may be needed. One treatment for ETD is balloon dilation, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

"Recent advancements of balloon dilation of eustachian tube orifice have proven to be highly effective to improve the eustachian tube function and the resulting ear problems," Sanders said.

The procedure is relatively new and is minimally invasive. A study of 126 children who underwent the procedure found that there were no reported complications, and symptoms improved in 80% of cases.

If you're interested in learning more about ETD or sinusitis symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.