- Natural healing within a few weeks or a few months
- Keep ear dry: use silicone earplug or coated cotton
- Gentle care: avoid ear cleaning during healing
- Avoid forceful nose blowing for protection
- Follow ENT Specialist diligently throughout healing
A ruptured eardrum, or perforated eardrum, is a condition where a tear or hole forms in the thin membrane that separates the outer and middle ear. This vital membrane, called the tympanic membrane, plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations. Common causes include ear infections, trauma, sudden pressure changes, or inserting objects into the ear. Symptoms often include ear pain, drainage, hearing loss, and sometimes bloody discharge. Diagnosis involves a visual examination using specialized instruments and hearing tests. Most ruptured eardrums heal on their own within weeks, but surgical intervention may be necessary if healing does not occur naturally. Treatments range from office-based procedures with patches to surgical interventions like tympanoplasty. Self-care, such as keeping the ear dry and refraining from ear cleaning, aids in the healing process. Timely medical/surgical attention ensures proper management and recovery for individuals with ruptured eardrums.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a ruptured eardrum is typically conducted through a visual inspection using an otoscope or microscope by your provider or an ENT specialist. Additional tests may be ordered to determine the cause of ear symptoms or detect hearing loss. These tests include laboratory tests and cultures to identify bacterial infections of the middle ear, tuning fork evaluations to assess hearing loss, tympanometry to measure the eardrum response to air pressure changes, and audiology exams to evaluate hearing at different volumes and pitches.
Treatment
Most ruptured eardrums heal without treatment in a few weeks. Antibiotic drops may be prescribed if an infection is present. In cases where the eardrum doesn't heal on its own, treatment options may include an office procedure using a paper patch or other materials to seal the tear, or surgery called tympanoplasty. During tympanoplasty, a tiny patch of the patient's tissue is grafted to close the hole in the eardrum. Self-care involves keeping the ear dry, refraining from cleaning the ears, and avoiding blowing the nose to protect the healing eardrum until it is fully healed.
Supporting the Healing Process and Protecting Your Ear
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