what is the best cure to slight feeling of hearing loss due to a blocked eustachian tube?

Question

My left ear has felt blocked for over 3 months now and i havent had any pain, but it just came and went. I finally got tired of it and i have been looking for a cure i dont want to go to the doctor yet. Anyways the left side of my nose is always stopped up and i tried blowing my nose really hard and i felt alot of stuff deep inside of my nose so i think its my eustachian tube that is blocked. When i yawn i feel pressure in my ear and it feel like the pressure tries to go out my ear and it hurts sometimes.If i go to the doctor will I have to have surgery and if left untreated will it lead to more serious problems? Any answers will help greatly, THANK YA'LL

Answer 1

Hi, I'm an Audiologist.

For immediate relief, try the ValSalva maneuver: holding your nose and mouth closed and GENTLY blowing to force air through the Eustachian tube into the middle ear space. Many people also get relief by applying heat, like a hot water bottle, to the ear. Be careful when blowing your nose - also blow GENTLY then, because you could force too much pressure and even mucous, up into the middle ear, which could then breed infection. Steam/vapor to moisten and loosen up the mucous might also help it drain.

You could also try antihistamines and/or decongestants to open up and dry out the sinuses. Of course this depends on your health and medical history, and should be supervised by a physician. Start with your primary doctor, who may also prescribe antibiotics, as there may be infection since it's been 3 months. If it persists following that treatment, ask for a referral to consult an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat - ENT). They will probably check your hearing and middle ear pressure to verify the diagnosis, and may want to get a CT scan of your sinuses, if that problem has persisted, too.

Typically, if medication is not able to clear the pressure and congestion in the middle ear, the surgical treatment is to cut an incision in the eardrum (myringotomy) to relieve the pressure, and suction out any fluid that might be in the middle ear space. If the fluid remains untreated, it can erode the middle ear bones (ossicles) and if infected, the infection can spread to other areas around the ear. In the case of chronic/recurrent ear infections, a tiny rubbery grommet "tube" is placed in the incision to hold if open and prevent the pressure and fluid from building up again.

Most adults can have this procedure done in the otolaryngologist's office with a local anesthetic. In children it's performed under general anesthesia because it is so important for them to be totally still when working with such small structures. This is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the U.S. (second only to circumcision, last I heard); and the tube falls out on it's own while the eardrum heals itself. In a few patients, there can be scarring of the eardrum, but typically that only becomes problematic if the patient has several surgeries.

If you have pain, fever, sudden significant hearing loss, or spinning dizziness (vertigo) - these could be symptoms of more serious complications and you should see a doctor promptly. I hope this helps, and that you feel better soon!

Answer 2

To add to the previous comment. Sounds like a trip to the ENT or Allergist would be a good move. It is possible that treating the source of the upper respiratory problem would help resolve our Eustachian Tube dysfunction. Oftentimes, treatment with a steroid nasal spray will help get the allergies under control and therefore the rest of the system starts to work properly.