Sinus infections and allergies may also cause swelling of the tissue lining the Eustachian tube. It can also cause them to become blocked. Identifying and treating nasal allergies may... Self-inflation of the ears to treat eustachian tube dysfunction. If this tube becomes plugged or infected, it can cause eustachian tube dysfunction. Another less … Feeling of fullness in the ears— Eustachian tube dysfunction classically presents with a feeling of fullness in the ear, often associated with hearing loss. Eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat. Causes. Allergies and illnesses like the common cold are the most common causes of ETD. ETD is a condition that prevents your eustachian tubes from opening properly. There is a requirement for a wide differential and thorough … What You Should Know About Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Symptoms. Eustachian tube dysfunction should be a diagnosis of exclusion as ear fullness can be the presenting feature in a wide variety of clinical entities of the external, middle, and inner ears. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Treatment Eustachian tube dysfunction: Treating allergies and nasal decongestion. The length of time that ETD symptoms last depends on the initial cause. Rarely, Eustachian tube blockage may be the sign of a more serious problem such as nasal polyps, a cleft palate, or a skull base tumor. The Eustachian tube can be blocked, or obstructed, for a variety of reasons, for example: The most common cause is a " cold " ( upper respiratory infection ). The eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. If the normally-closed tubes will not open normally, the patient will experience ear fullness, popping/crackling, hearing loss (mild), and even temporary tinnitus (ringing). These tubes open and allow air to flow in and out when you sneeze, swallow, or yawn. Obesity can also predispose a patient to Eustachian tube dysfunction because of excess fatty deposits around the passageway of the Eustachian tube.