Eustachian tube: patulous tube: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Eustachian tube: patulous tube

Sample item

A woman who has lost a lot of weight hears her own voice and breathing loudly in one ear, relieved on lying down. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Patulous eustachian tube

A patulous eustachian tube stays open and causes autophony and audible breath sounds, often after weight loss or pregnancy. The symptoms improve on lying down or bending forward as venous engorgement closes the tube. Otosclerosis causes quiet hearing and paracusis.

Option by option

  • A. Meniere's disease

    Meniere's disease has vertigo and fluctuating hearing.

  • B. Glue ear

    Glue ear causes muffled hearing, not autophony.

  • C. Patulous eustachian tube (correct)

    Correct. Autophony relieved by lying down is typical.

  • D. Otosclerosis

    Otosclerosis produces progressive conductive loss, not autophony.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Patulous eustachian tube. A patulous eustachian tube stays open and causes autophony and audible breath sounds, often after weight loss or pregnancy.

Why is "Meniere's disease" not the answer?

Meniere's disease has vertigo and fluctuating hearing.

Why is "Glue ear" not the answer?

Glue ear causes muffled hearing, not autophony.

Why is "Otosclerosis" not the answer?

Otosclerosis produces progressive conductive loss, not autophony.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Eustachian tube: patulous tube in ENT. The symptoms improve on lying down or bending forward as venous engorgement closes the tube. Otosclerosis causes quiet hearing and paracusis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Eustachian tube: patulous tube?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.