Eustachian tube dysfunction is usually the result of a cold or similar infection. This is similar to ear congestion but doesnât involve fluid buildup in the middle ear. Itâs possible for ear, throat, or sinus infections to cause ear congestion and the condition is more common in children since their Eustachian tubes are shorter. Not only does this cause ear pressure, ringing, muffled hearing, and potential balancing difficulties, the trapped fluid can breed bacteria and result in additional infections. Trapped fluids build up and place pressure on the eardrum and other surroundings. However, if the tube becomes inflamed from an infection, this task becomes much harder. Ear CongestionĪnother duty the Eustachian tube has is to help drain fluid or mucus out of the ear. In severe cases, barotrauma can cause the eardrum to rupture and result in bleeding from the ear or nose. The severity of all of these symptoms depends on the extent of the pressure on the eardrum and how long it has been going on. Although normally the result of air pressure, barotrauma can also happen if the throat swells up and prevents air from flowing into the Eustachian tube.īarotrauma usually presents with ear pain, general discomfort or stuffiness, and decreased or muffled hearing. This causes the middle ear to have much lower pressure than the outer ear and causes the eardrum to bulge, resulting in pain and possible additional injuries. The net result is that when the Eustachian tube is unable to open, air canât reach the middle ear. It can also be caused by driving along mountain roads or engaging in similarly elevated activities. This is most often seen when taking off or landing in an airplane (i.e., sudden altitude change) or when diving (i.e., high atmospheric pressure). This is when the Eustachian tube is being physically prevented from opening, usually as a result of high atmospheric pressure or a rapid change in outside air pressure.

Paying attention to the signals your body is sending can help make recognizing the underlying cause (and solution) easier. What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Ear Pressure?Īlthough most ear pressure issues involve the Eustachian tube, they each present differently and can come with other associated symptoms. What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Ear Pressure?.

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