I can hear my breathing in my ear. Do you think it is a patulous eustachian tube?

Hi,

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I understand your concern. First, we must determine whether the cause is a patulous eustachian tube. Hearing one's breath sounds, heartbeat, and voice can be in a few conditions like dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal, vestibulocochlear fistula labyrinth, or patulous eustachian tube. There are multiple treatment options if it is a patulous eustachian tube. It can be evaluated with the following tests: 1. Tympanometry. 2. Nasal Audiometry. 3. Sonotubometry. 4. CT Scan (computed tomography). As the eustachian tube remains open all the time, if patulous, while in normal, it occasionally opens to equalize pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane. Maneuvers, medications, or procedures are directed to reduce the opening of the eustachian tube. First, you must try conservative measures like keeping good hydration and avoiding stimulants like caffeine. Keeping the head between the knees helps. Inhaling with a closed mouth helps but should not be done forcefully and frequently. Saline nasal drops can be used. If these do not help, we can resort to surgical procedures like: 1. Eustachian tube plugging. 2. Autologous tissue plug. 3. Eustachian tube injection. 4. Cautery. 5. Tympanostomy.