About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery North American Skull Base Society American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001 Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 9/19/2007 Subject: Ears popping all day everyday
Question Every single day for at least four or five years, I've had constant ear popping. Usually whenever I yawn (which is very very frequently in school, so it drives me crazy) is when it occurs. It feels like its at least 50-100 times an hour, depending on how much I yawn. I also have the ability to move some muscle or something in my ears and make them pop on my own.
The only temporary solution for me is to sniff and pinch my nose while doing so. I don't know if I have allergies, but I was told I did and I've been taking Claritin every day and it does absolutely nothing for me.
I'm aware that this isn't exactly normal, so how in the world can I prevent my ears from popping so much? It doesn't hurt or anything, its just really really annoying, and I feel like I'm slowly destroying my nose from sniffing so often. (A few months ago I was having pretty bad nosebleeds, and I finally managed to put an end to that by taking more Vitamin C and not blowing my nose so hard).
Any advice?
Answer This is eustachian tube dysfunction, a very common problem. You can certainly treat any allergy that may be contributing, but otherwise occasonal Valsalva (holding the nose and popping the ears) is usually appropriate treatment. In severe cases tubes may be put in the eardrum.
