Broadcaster Oh Jung-yeon reveals 30-year struggle with patulous Eustachian tube disorder — the same condition that affected IU

Public interest in patulous Eustachian tube disorder is growing after broadcaster and former announcer Oh Jung-yeon revealed she had undergone surgery for a condition she had endured for 30 years. Singer IU was also recently reported to have the same disorder, drawing further attention to its symptoms and treatment options. While not life-threatening, the condition can significantly diminish quality of life by causing a person's own voice and breathing to echo loudly inside the ear.

Oh said Wednesday on her SNS that she only learned this year that the chronic symptoms she had felt since high school had a name. "It would flare up without fail whenever I pushed myself with exercise or broadcasting work," she said, adding that she had spent 30 years assuming she simply had to endure the discomfort. "Once I found out it was an actual condition, I sought out a specialist and finally had the surgery," she said.

She encouraged others with similar symptoms to carefully consider treatment as she had done, and said she looked forward to an improved quality of life. Oh also said that when she heard IU had adjusted her schedule because of the disorder, she felt especially sorry for her "because I know what the symptoms are like."

The Eustachian tube — also called the auditory tube — is a channel connecting the back of the nasal cavity to the middle ear. It normally stays closed and opens briefly when a person swallows or yawns, equalizing pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment. The familiar sensation of blocked ears on an airplane or at high altitude, which clears when you swallow, is the Eustachian tube at work.

The problem arises when the tube remains open even when it should be closed — a condition known as patulous Eustachian tube disorder. When the tube stays open, sounds from the nose and throat travel directly into the ear, making a person's own voice or breathing sound abnormally loud. In severe cases, the heartbeat or the sound of breathing can seem to reverberate inside the head.

The hallmark symptom is autophony — hearing one's own voice resonating loudly inside the ear or throughout the head, creating an unpleasant sensation similar to speaking inside a cave. This can be accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the ear, a muffled sensation and auditory fatigue. For people who speak or sing extensively, the condition can also interfere with voice production and pitch control.

Symptoms often fluctuate, improving and worsening over time. They tend to become more pronounced during exercise, when fatigue accumulates, after rapid weight loss or in a state of dehydration. Conversely, lying down or tilting the head forward can bring temporary relief, as the change in blood flow to the head causes tissue around the Eustachian tube to swell slightly, narrowing the opening.

The exact cause of patulous Eustachian tube disorder has not been fully established, but rapid weight loss is considered the most common risk factor. When the fat and soft tissue supporting the tube diminish, the tube may fail to close properly. Dehydration, excessive exercise, pregnancy, hormonal changes, certain neuromuscular conditions and chronic fatigue are also believed to be contributing factors.

Not every case of blocked or muffled ears points to this condition. Rhinitis, the common cold, otitis media, Eustachian tube dysfunction and tinnitus can all produce similar symptoms. Eustachian tube dysfunction in particular — where the tube fails to open adequately, preventing proper pressure regulation — differs from patulous Eustachian tube disorder in both mechanism and treatment approach. Anyone experiencing recurring ear fullness or autophony should see an ear, nose and throat specialist to have the eardrum, hearing and Eustachian tube function assessed.

Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms. Mild cases may first be managed conservatively through adequate hydration, rest, avoiding excessive weight loss and general health maintenance. If symptoms developed after rapid weight loss, returning to a healthy weight may help.

When symptoms persist or interfere with daily life, medication or procedures may be considered. Options include nasal sprays to regulate the nasal mucosa, saline irrigation, eardrum patching and ventilation tube insertion. In some patients, fillers, fat or cartilage are injected near the open section of the tube to reduce the gap.

If symptoms remain severe despite conservative treatment and procedures, surgery may be considered. However, because the Eustachian tube plays a critical role in regulating middle ear pressure and draining secretions, simply closing it is not appropriate for everyone. The choice of treatment must take into account the underlying cause, severity, the patient's occupation and hearing status.

Stress management also matters. While stress has not been confirmed as a direct cause of the disorder, it can heighten sensitivity to the sounds echoing in the ear and make symptoms feel more distressing. Sleep deprivation and overwork can also worsen symptoms, making a regular routine and adequate recovery time important.

Specialists advise that anyone who repeatedly experiences ear fullness or hears their own voice and breathing echoing loudly should not dismiss it as simple fatigue or tinnitus, but seek medical attention. For those in voice-intensive professions such as broadcasting or singing, even minor changes in hearing can significantly affect daily life and work, making early diagnosis and a step-by-step treatment approach all the more important.