A perforated eardrum is also sometimes called a ruptured eardrum. A perforated eardrum can really hurt. And if you can't hear as well as usual, it can be pretty scary. The good news is, most people who have a perforated eardrum get all their hearing back eventually. If you think you have a perforated eardrum, see a doctor.
A tear in the eardrum can allow bacteria and other things to get into the middle ear and inner ear. If that happens, an infection could develop that can cause more hearing loss. Most perforated eardrums heal in a few weeks. Sometimes, though, doctors need to do surgery to repair the tear.
The eardrum is a thin piece of skin-like tissue that's stretched tight — like a drum — across the opening between the ear canal and the middle ear. The outer ear funnels sound waves into the ear canal that hit the eardrum and make it vibrate.
The middle ear and inner ear convert the vibrations to signals that the brain interprets as sounds. If there is a hole in the eardrum, it can't always vibrate as well as it should. These may include:. A ruptured perforated eardrum usually heals on its own within weeks. In some cases, healing takes months. Until your doctor tells you that your ear is healed, protect it by:. If you have signs or symptoms of a perforated eardrum, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or general practitioner.
However, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in ear, nose and throat ENT disorders otolaryngologist. If you think you have signs or symptoms of a ruptured eardrum, you may want to ask your doctor some of the following questions. If you think that you have a ruptured eardrum, be careful to keep your ears dry to prevent infection. Don't go swimming until your condition has been evaluated and discussed with your doctor.
To keep water out of your ear when showering or bathing, use a moldable, waterproof silicone earplug or put a cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly in your outer ear. Don't put medication drops in your ear unless your doctor prescribes them specifically for infection related to your perforated eardrum.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. You may have some temporary hearing loss or a reduction in hearing in the affected ear. You can also experience tinnitus , a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, or dizziness. Your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist , or ENT, if you need more specialized examinations or treatment for a ruptured eardrum.
Treatments for eardrum rupture are mainly designed to relieve pain and eliminate or prevent infection. If your ear does not heal on its own, your doctor may patch the eardrum. Patching involves placing a medicated paper patch over the tear in the membrane. The patch encourages the membrane to grow back together.
Antibiotics can clear up infections that might have led to your eardrum rupture. They also protect you from developing new infections from the perforation. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics or medicated eardrops. You may also be told to use both forms of medication. In rare cases, surgery may be required to patch the hole in the eardrum.
A surgical repair of a perforated eardrum is called tympanoplasty. During tympanoplasty, your surgeon takes tissue from another area of your body and grafts it onto the hole in your eardrum. At home, you can ease the pain of a ruptured eardrum with heat and pain relievers. Placing a warm, dry compress on your ear several times daily can help.
Promote healing by not blowing your nose any more than absolutely necessary. Blowing your nose creates pressure in your ears. Trying to clear your ears by holding your breath, blocking your nose, and blowing also creates high pressure in your ears.
If your eardrum is ruptured, fluid from these drops can get deep into your ear. This can cause further issues. Eardrum ruptures can happen much more frequently in children because of their sensitive tissue and narrow ear canals. Any kind of small foreign object, such as a pencil or hairpin, can also damage or rupture their eardrum if inserted too far into their ear canal.
Ear infections are the most common cause of eardrum ruptures in children. Evans AK, et al. Evaluation and management of middle ear trauma. Accessed Sept. Lalwani AK. Temporal bone trauma. New York, N. Vernick DM. Ear barotrauma. Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane. Merck Manual Professional Version. Elsevier Point of Care. Ear and sinus barotrauma. Accessed June 6, Sagiv D, et al. Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane: A review of 80 cases.
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