Patulous Eustachian Tube

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Patulous Eustachian Tube is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

P.E.T.
pET

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

In patulous eustachian tube (pET) dysfunction, the eustachian tube stays open most of the time. The eustachian tube is a passageway from the back of the nose to the middle ear that may be opened or closed by action of a valve-like device. Under normal circumstances, it remains closed for most of the day, opening only on occasion to equalize air pressure in the middle ear and the exterior environment.

If the tube remains open, the patient complains of hearing one’s own voice or one’s breathing as too loud (autophony), hearing echoes of one’s own voice, or hearing ocean waves much like the sound produced by holding a shell over one’s ear.

The condition is benign but may generate, over time, serious and even extreme responses to the abnormal sounds.

Resources

Better Hearing Institute
515 King Street, Suite 420
Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22314
United States
Tel: 7036843391
Fax: 7036846048
Tel: 8003279355
Email: mail@betterhearing.org
Internet: http://www.betterhearing.org

EAR (Education and Auditory Research) Foundation
P.O. Box 330867
Nashville, TN 37203
Tel: (615)627-2724
Tel: (800)545-4327
TDD: (615)284-7849
Email: suzanne@earfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.earfoundation.org

NIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (Balance)
National Temporal Bone, Hearing
and Balance Pathology Resource Registry
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
243 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114-3096
Fax: (617)573-3838
Tel: (800)822-1327
TDD: (888)561-3277
Email: TBRegistry@meei.harvard.edu
Internet: http://www.tbregistry.org

American Academy of Audiology
11730 Plaza America
#300
Reston, VA 20190
Tel: (703)790-8466
Fax: (703)790-8631
Tel: (800)222-2336
Email: info@audiology.org
Internet: http://www.audiology.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 8/17/2004
Copyright 1986, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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