Eustachian tube function in patients with inner ear disorders.

The influence of Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction on the inner ear fluid pressure and thus on the inner ear function in Meniere's disease has been discussed controversially. So far, most of the studies examining ET function in inner ear disorders indirectly analyzed ET function by tympanometric methods. The present study directly studied ET function in inner ear disorders by sonotubometry.

Long-term middle ear pressure measurements in inner ear disorders.

Conclusion: Repetitive portable tympanometry is a feasible method to examine long-term middle ear pressure profile. This method might be suitable for detecting patients with Meniere's disease whose middle ear pressure shows intermittently pathological values.

Objectives: Contradictory study results regarding middle ear pressure in patients with Meniere's disease might be due to solitary tympanometric measurements.