Balloon treatment for long-lasting clogged ear tube symptoms
Part of Ear, nose & throat clinical trials.
This trial tests whether balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube can improve symptoms like ear pressure, muffled hearing, pain, ringing, and popping. It’s for people whose symptoms have lasted for months (or are triggered by pressure changes) and haven’t improved with usual non-surgical treatments.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- >3 months of ongoing “clogged” ear tube symptoms such as ear pain, pressure, muffled hearing, ringing, popping, or feeling blocked
- Your symptoms have not improved after at least 4 weeks of nasal steroid spray or a short course of oral/stomach steroid in the last 6 months
- A recent ear test (tympanogram) shows Type B or C results within the last 6 months
- Your score on the ETDQ7 questionnaire is at least 2.1
- If your symptoms are pressure-triggered, they must happen for more than 12 months, at least every 4 months, and go away within 3 days after pressure equalizes
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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