The balloon catheter is guided to your Eustachian tube where it is inflated and held for several minutes. If you have persistent symptoms (for more than 12 weeks), that have not responded to conservative measures as above, or if you get other symptoms such as repeated or long-lasting ear discharge/infection or significant pain, you should consult your GP.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The more prepared we are, the better our bodies will perform – this applies not only to physical activities but also mental ones too!And the Eustachi is so easy to use on others - all they need to do is swallow, which can be accomplished by holding a sip of water in the mouth. We’re proud to have her share her wisdom on this platform, ensuring our readers have reliable, up-to-date, and trustworthy information. The main basis for seeking a specialist opinion is where there are concerns of associated speech or developmental delays in younger children. The Eustachian tube is a narrow tube that connects the space behind the ear (the middle ear) with the back of the nose.

Resistance: Hold on to your chin and pull your mouth open, or push your mouth closed while resisting mouth movements with your jaw.

ETD affects about 2% of adults but it is much more common in children due to the proximity of the Eustachian tube to the tonsils and adenoids (which tend to be larger in children whilst they are developing their immune system).