Patulous Eustachian Tube

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

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:  3/17/2008

Copyright  1986, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Last updated:	March 17, 2008