Hearing your breathing in your left ear is often caused by patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction. This condition occurs when the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, remains open instead of closing properly. This allows sounds from your nasal cavity, including your breathing, to travel directly into your middle ear, making them louder than normal.
Understanding Patulous Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
The Eustachian tube normally acts as a valve, opening and closing to equalize pressure in the middle ear. When it's dysfunctioning and remains open, sounds such as breathing, your own voice, or even your heartbeat can be amplified and heard unusually clearly. This can often be heard as a breathing sound, particularly in the affected ear. This is different from tinnitus, which is often described as ringing or buzzing, and not directly correlated with breathing sounds.
Several sources confirm this explanation:
- Johns Hopkins Medicine states that when the Eustachian tube valve remains open, sound travels from the nasal-sinus cavity to the ears, making sounds like breathing overly loud. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eustachian-tube-dysfunction)
- Medical News Today explains that patulous Eustachian tube can cause a person to hear an echo of their own voice or the sound of their breathing. (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/patulous-eustachian-tube)
- Numerous online forums and discussions (https://www.reddit.com/r/hearing/comments/17apctm/i_can_hear_my_breathing_in_my_right_ear_anyone/, https://www.quora.com/Im-hearing-a-weird-breathing-in-my-ear-It-feels-like-someone-else-is-there-breathing-raggedly-The-doctor-checked-and-I-have-no-ear-problems-What-is-this) reflect similar experiences and point towards Eustachian tube dysfunction as a likely cause.
While this is the most common reason, it's important to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Other less common causes could exist, and a medical professional can rule out any serious underlying conditions.
