I have had many patients respond with ear congestion, hearing loss, and buzzing sounds in their own speech in the middle to late stages of a cold, zhe many of which are caused by obstruction or dysfunction of the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube, also known as the Eustachian tube, is a very important dark channel in the upper part of the anterior wall of the tympanic chamber of the ear. It is called the eustachian tube because it enters the tympanic chamber from the anterior wall at one end and enters the nasopharynx at the other end, which is the channel between the tympanic chamber and the nasopharynx. As the only channel connecting the tympanic chamber and the pharynx, the eustachian tube has an important role: to maintain the pressure balance inside and outside the middle ear: when the air pressure inside the tympanic chamber is in balance with the external atmospheric pressure, it is conducive to the vibration of the tympanic membrane and the auditory chain to maintain normal hearing. The function of regulating the balance of air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane is performed by the eustachian tube. The lumen of the bony part of the eustachian tube is open; however, the cartilaginous part is flexible and generally in a closed state. When swallowing, yawning, chewing or sneezing, the muscles around it contract for a momentary opening, allowing the outside air to enter the tympanic cavity. Drainage of middle ear secretions: The mucus produced by the mucous membrane of the tympanic chamber and the eustachian tube can be continuously discharged to the nasopharynx through the ciliary movement of the mucous membrane epithelium of the eustachian tube. Prevention of retrograde infection: The eustachian tube is normally closed and only opens at the moment of swallowing, etc. Warm, clean, moist air from the nasal cavity passes through a sterile area, the eustachian tube, and then enters the middle ear at the moment of isolation between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx. The mucosal folds in the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube have a live flap effect, which, together with the ciliated movement of the mucosal epithelium, prevents liquid and foreign bodies from the nasopharynx from entering the tympanic chamber. Sound blocking and anechoic effect: Under normal circumstances, the closed state of the eustachian tube can block the sound waves of speech, respiration, heartbeat and other autogenous sounds from passing through the nasopharynx and eustachian tube and directly into the tympanic chamber. In patients with abnormally open eustachian tube, the eustachian tube cannot be closed during speech, so this blocking effect disappears and sound waves are transmitted directly into the middle ear cavity through the abnormally open eustachian tube, resulting in symptoms of self-hearing overhearing. In addition, the air flow caused by breathing can enter the middle ear cavity freely through the open eustachian tube and produce a respiratory sound, which can also mask the external sound transmitted through the external ear canal. In addition, the bony part of the eustachian tube is usually open, in the shape of a funnel that gradually narrows inward, and has mucosal folds on its surface. These structures are similar to mufflers to some extent, and are conducive to absorbing sound waves inside the tympanic chamber caused by the vibration of the round window membrane and the eardrum. The dysfunction of the eustachian tube disrupts the balance of air pressure between the middle ear and the outside world, and the middle ear cavity becomes negative pressure, resulting in inward trapping of the tympanic membrane, edema of the middle ear mucosa, fluid exudation, and early fluid accumulation in the tympanic cavity; after a long time, the secretion is sticky and gelatinous, called glue ear, which is prone to tympanic cavity adhesion, forming conductive deafness and possibly tinnitus. Nasopharyngeal lesions, allergic reactions, endocrine disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism), and dysfunction of the vegetative nerves can lead to recurrent attacks that do not heal over time. Treatment is as follows: 1. Early removal of nasopharyngeal lesions. Apply antibiotics, preferably under the guidance of a doctor; 2. Perform tympanic membrane massage or repeatedly perform pharyngeal tube blowing surgery, which can help improve hearing. If there is no nasal snot in the nasal cavity, use the palms of both hands to press against the outer ear hole, and feel the sound in the outer ear canal to be effective, three times a day. If there is still nasal snot in the nasal cavity, change the head to tilt to one side and gently shake the affected ear upward, the purpose is to discharge the middle ear fluid through the eustachian tube; and make swallowing and sucking action at the same time; 3. If the eustachian tube is open, the secretions in the middle ear cavity can be drained quickly, which is conducive to the regression of eustachian tube inflammation; 4. Early hormone and enzyme treatment is feasible. This should also be done under the guidance of a doctor; 5. Surgical treatment. The tympanotomy, the tube and the middle ear surgery, etc.