What Is a Perforated Eardrum?
A perforated eardrum occurs when the thin, oval layer of tissue deep in the ear canal bursts. This layer helps protect the middle and inner ear.
There are various reasons this can occur, but they all lead to the same thing: ear pain and hearing loss, albeit temporary.
A perforated eardrum is a ruptured membrane in the ear that can lead to serious symptoms, infections, and even hearing loss. If you think you may have a perforated eardrum, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. In this article, we will explore some of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for a perforated eardrum.
Perforated Eardrum Symptoms
The most common sign of a ruptured eardrum is pain or fullness in the ear, but other indications include:
- Sudden hearing loss
- Itchy ear
- Ear discharge
- Tinnitus
Your symptoms should dissipate once your eardrum heals and any infection clears. However, if this does not happen or you feel that your condition is getting worse, please contact your doctor.
Causes of a Ruptured Eardrum
Common causes of a perforated eardrum include:
- Injury to the ear
- Ear infection
- Changes in pressure
- Sudden loud noise
Many things can cause a ruptured eardrum, from fluid in the ear to foreign objects. They are very delicate and rupture easily. You should take good care of your ears and be gentle with them. This means using cotton buds only when necessary when cleaning your ears at home, or limiting exposure to loud noises. Taking these precautions will help promote better hearing health overall
A ruptured eardrum can only be ruled out through a medical examination. To avoid any further consequences, you should get checked by a doctor as soon as possible.
How To Treat a Perforated Eardrum
Although perforated eardrums generally heal without treatment within a few weeks, it is best to consult with your GP. He or she will be able to determine the cause and give you any necessary treatments.
Before any doctor can develop a successful treatment plan, they need to first diagnose the problem. Your GP will use an otoscope, which is a magnifying instrument, in order to identify any tears or holes in your eardrum. They may also check your hearing quality overall in order to determine how severe the rupture is and what might have caused it.
Antibiotics can both treat currently existing ear infections and stop new ones from developing.
Any injury to your eardrum, no matter how small, should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
Your symptoms should clear up after a few weeks, but if they do not, go back to your GP. They may need to patch your eardrum or see if you would benefit from surgery.
What’s The Average Healing Time?
The amount of time it takes for a ruptured eardrum to heal differs from person to person, but usually, the symptoms go away after just a few weeks. In most cases, the membrane will repair itself without any medical intervention.
Is a Perforated Eardrum an Emergency?
Oftentimes, perforated eardrums are not emergencies. So long as the symptoms are not too harsh, it can be addressed. However, if there is a fracture and blood coming out of the ear along with the rupture, this will require an immediate medical assessment.
The good new – most hearing loss caused by a perforated eardrum is only temporary and will not have lasting effects on your hearing! It is still important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you are experiencing severe symptoms.
