In 7 ears of recurrent adhesive otitis media, their eustachian tube function was examined using tubo-tympanoaerodynamic graphy (TTAG). Using TTAG, the compliant tube can be judged by the findings of contradicting combination of the patent pattern by nasal deep respiration and the stenotic pattern by Valsalva's maneuver. In 4 of 7 ears a typical wave pattern of the compliant tube was detected and 2 ears were also supposed to have the compliant tube because of the findings of the stenotic pattern by Valsalva's maneuver but a good inflation by catheterization. From our study, it is suggested that eustachian tube dysfunction like the compliant tube may play an important role for the etiology of adhesive otitis media and as a cause of recurrence of this disease.
