Hearing your breathing can mean the tube is too open

Patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction can amplify one’s own voice or breath sounds, often varying with position.

Patulous Eustachian tubeAn abnormally open tube can transmit breathing and voice sounds into the ear.
Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunctionReduced tube opening may cause pressure, popping and muffled hearing.
Middle-ear effusion or pressure changeFluid or negative pressure can affect hearing and comfort.
Temporomandibular dysfunctionJaw muscles and joints can produce referred ear pressure.
Migraine-associated aural fullnessMigraine mechanisms can affect sensory perception of ear pressure.

Pressure after flights can reflect pressure equalization difficulty

Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction can impair pressure equalization, particularly after nasal inflammation or pressure change.

Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunctionReduced tube opening may cause pressure, popping and muffled hearing.
Middle-ear effusion or pressure changeFluid or negative pressure can affect hearing and comfort.
Temporomandibular dysfunctionJaw muscles and joints can produce referred ear pressure.
Migraine-associated aural fullnessMigraine mechanisms can affect sensory perception of ear pressure.
Patulous Eustachian tubeAn abnormally open tube can transmit breathing and voice sounds into the ear.

Hearing tests help distinguish middle-ear pressure problems from inner-ear or other causes of fullness.

Middle-ear effusion or pressure changeFluid or negative pressure can affect hearing and comfort.
Temporomandibular dysfunctionJaw muscles and joints can produce referred ear pressure.
Migraine-associated aural fullnessMigraine mechanisms can affect sensory perception of ear pressure.
Patulous Eustachian tubeAn abnormally open tube can transmit breathing and voice sounds into the ear.
Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunctionReduced tube opening may cause pressure, popping and muffled hearing.

A normal ear appearance does not rule out temporomandibular or migraine-associated ear discomfort.

Temporomandibular dysfunctionJaw muscles and joints can produce referred ear pressure.
Migraine-associated aural fullnessMigraine mechanisms can affect sensory perception of ear pressure.
Patulous Eustachian tubeAn abnormally open tube can transmit breathing and voice sounds into the ear.
Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunctionReduced tube opening may cause pressure, popping and muffled hearing.
Middle-ear effusion or pressure changeFluid or negative pressure can affect hearing and comfort.