Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms can include:

• Feeling of fullness or clogging in the ear
• Discomfort or pain in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Ringing in the ear ( tinnitus )
• Dizziness
• Symptoms cannot be relieved by swallowing, yawning, or chewing
• Pain if the blockage results in an infection

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. A lighted instrument, called an otoscope, will be used to look inside your ear. The doctor will check for a slight bulge around the eardrum, fluid, and swelling. If your case is severe, your may need to see an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in ear disorders.

Other possible tests include:

• Tympanogram—to measure pressure in the ear canal and movement of the eardrum
• Audiogram —to measure hearing
• Examination of the nose and the back of the nose