Eustachian Tube Function in Adults without Middle Ear Disease

Abstract

Objectives:

We sought to develop normative values for 5 eustachian tube function (ETF) test protocols in adults without otitis media (OM).

Methods:

Twenty adults (19 to 48 years of age) without a recent history of OM (5 had OM in childhood) underwent unilateral myringotomy and were evaluated for ETF by use of the forced response, inflation, deflation, forcible “sniff,” and Valsalva test protocols. When possible, these tests were repeated on a second day.

Results:

Normative values for the parameters of these protocols in adult subjects without a recent history of OM were developed. Between-day data for the forced response test were highly correlated. A percentage of these tests showed eustachian tube “constriction” during swallowing — An abnormal condition. The percent reduction in applied pressures for the inflation and deflation tests was high, indicative of good ETF. Few subjects had a positive “sniff” test, whereas most had a positive Valsalva test, and the results for both tests were effort-dependent.

Conclusions:

Results of ETF tests in adults with and without recent OM have not been published. Normative data are now available for comparison with ETF test results in adults with OM. These protocols will be used to evaluate the efficacy of surgical procedures designed to improve ETF.