Assessing auditory tube function in patients with tinnitus

Introduction . Despite the development of diagnostic capabilities in otorhinolaryngology, the mechanisms of development of subjective ear noise, and in many cases etiological factors, are not sufficiently studied. To date, many hypotheses of pathogenesis have been proposed, one of which is dysfunction of the auditory tubes. At the moment, there is no “gold standard” for assessing the condition of the auditory tubes, since dysfunction has various manifestations on standard tests, has a type A tympanogram and has positive and sometimes normal pressure in the tympanic cavity, appearing only with the ETF stress test (Eustachian Tube Function). Aim . To identify an objective relationship between auditory tube dysfunction and tinnitus in a group of patients with subjective tinnitus Materials and methods . We examined 26 patients with complaints of hearing loss. Exclusion criteria were: absence of acute and chronic ENT pathology, surgical interventions on ENT organs, complaints of impaired nasal breathing. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 16 patients with tinnitus (61.6%) and 10 patients with no tinnitus (38.4%). Results . In the majority of patients in the group with tinnitus (81%), dysfunction of the auditory tube was detected. Also, analysis of peak compliance indicators showed a decrease in its level in the group of patients with tinnitus. Conclusion . The results obtained indicate the paramount importance of assessing the condition of the middle ear in patients with tinnitus. Studying the function of the auditory tube allows us to identify dysfunctions that are not always obvious during the initial otorhinolaryngological examination and adjust the diagnostic and treatment plan for this category of patients.