Could sinus infection cause autophony?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Autophony can be due to the patulous Eustachian tube. It is more common in female, hyperthyroidism, sudden weight loss, post pregnancy, etc. Since you had a sinus infection, it could have masked eustachian tube and you were not having this problem. Ringing sound (not autophony) can also be there due to jaw problem, but there will be ear pain. If you have pain in your jaw or ear while having food, then you can do hot fomentation over your jaw area and have soft diet. Also, try eating on the other side for a few days. The tests you underwent will be normal in a patulous eustachian tube. So, to diagnose patulous eustachian tube, you should undergo diagnostic nasal endoscopy and nasopharyngoscopy. Based on the report, the treatment will be given. Without confirming the diagnosis, we cannot comment on any treatment.

For further information consult an audiologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/audiologist

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

No, sinus does not cause any problem to the Eustachian tube.

If you have some autoimmune disease such as hyperthyroid or recent pregnancy or sudden weight loss, then it can cause patulous eustachian tube. Sometimes, it is idiopathic that is there is no cause for it. I would advise you to get an endoscopy.

Revert back with the report to an audiologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/audiologist

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Good. Please go ahead and revert back with the report.

Revert back with the reports to an audiologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/audiologist

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The endoscopy report seems to be normal. However, only if we compare eustachian tube orifices of both sides, then can we arrive at some inference. Also, we must have a video of nasopharyngoscopy during swallowing. Only such a video can help us see if the eustachian tube orifice opens only while swallowing or it stays open even after that. As a trial basis, we can start you on Potassium iodide nasal drops or local estrogen drops. These are local, non-surgical treatment for the patulous eustachian tube. However, Potassium iodide can be started only after a short work-up of your blood profile. The drops act locally to produce some congestion at the eustachian tube orifice. Autophony is a problem difficult to tackle. In some patients, even after adequate treatment the symptoms do not recede. A recent approach to treating PET is paper patching of the tympanic membrane. This is a novel approach whereby we place a thin paper of a particular make over the tympanic membrane, which prevents autophony and abnormal movements of the ear drum due to a patulous eustachian tube problem.

For further doubts consult an audiologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/audiologist

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

For the diagnosis of patulous eustachian tube you required to do the following tests:

1. Sonotubometry.

2. Video nasopharyngoscopy.

If you can share the reports of the above two, then we can categorically say whether it is PET that is causing you the trouble. Starting estrogen drops without an adequate diagnosis may not be a good idea. Some other local applications that have some benefits are Hydrochloric acid, anti-cholinergics and Potassium iodide drops. Do revert back to me with the above two reports and then we can proceed further in managing this.

Revert back with the reports to an audiologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/audiologist

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. I understand your concern.

You have a problem in your sinus that is a polyp, for which I presume you are already on treatment, that is, local steroid spray, etc. Have you been advised of any surgery? The polyp will not cause autophony. Yes, it blocks the tube and causes pain in the ear and a ringing sensation but not autophony. According to me you do not have any problem in TMJ. Do you have any symptoms or pain while chewing? No bells palsy. Reports within normal limits (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). And also, for the test to be positive, it should be done within three days to one week of symptoms. Treatment for Bell's palsy is oral steroids for two to three weeks. So are you taking oral steroids? Yes, your IgE levels are very high, which is causing polyps. But allergy again does not cause autophony but ringing in the ears.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. I understand your concern.

Pressure over the nose is due to sinusitis or deviated nasal septum. Steroid spray is effective in sinusitis or polyps. Should use for at least a month and then notice. You will have to take spray even after surgery because recurrence is high. Clicking in the ear and buzzing is due to sinusitis and jaw stiffness. To reduce jaw stiffness, do hot fomentation. There are a few exercises for it. And have a soft diet. Chew food from the side which is not stiff. Sensitivity is different. Maybe you are not able to differentiate between two symptoms. I think for the ear problem, you should wait once the nose and jaw problem subsides. It might get reduced on its own. Steroids for Bell's palsy are effective only if you take them early. Since you are unaware of the onset, I will not advise you to take it.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. I understand your concern.

Let your sinus symptoms subside then we can decide about the ear. Take steroid spray. If it does not subside, you have to undergo surgery. Take spray for a month.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. I understand your concern.

Yes, that can be the cause. AD type of curve is seen when there is an ossicular discontinuity. That is, ear bones are not synchronizing well. But you told me before that your audiometry and all pressure tests are normal. Did you not get tympanometry done before? Audiometry for some doctors (including me) means both pure tone audiometry and tympanometry (impedance audiometry). Kindly attach your pure tone audiometry report also.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. I understand your concern.

A sinus infection does not cause any ossicular discontinuity. However, if it is for a long time, you can get an ear infection. Kindly attach your report and also get repeat tympanometry done. The ossicular discontinuity cannot recover by medicines. We need to get HRCT temporal bone done to see your ossicles. If repeated, tympanometry again shows an AD-type curve. Get repeat pure tone audiometry also. If high resolution computed tomography (HCRT) also shows ossicular discontinuity, then exploratory tympanotomy is required.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. I understand your concern.

Get a repeat of tympanometry and pure tone audiometry. No hearing loss is not always there but knowing the status of your hearing is essential. If repeat tympanometry shows an AD type curve, get HCRT temporal bone done. Based on that, further management will be planned. Without CT, it is difficult to say what the success rate of surgery will be.