Eardrum Perforation
A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear in the eardrum, either due to injury or infection. In most cases, a perforation will heal by itself, but surgery is sometimes needed to repair the damage.
What is eardrum perforation?
A perforated eardrum, sometimes called a ruptured eardrum, is a hole or tear in the eardrum (the thin membrane separating the ear canal from the middle ear). Most perforations will heal by themselves after a few days or weeks, but the longer it has been there, the lower the chance it will heal on its own.
In some cases, the eardrum will not repair on its own. This can lead to ongoing infections and long-term hearing loss, so it’s important to get the condition correctly diagnosed and treated.
Our ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists see patients with eardrum perforation in our state-of-the-art ENT centre, where they use the most advanced diagnostics and treatment options to provide the best possible care.
More information
In most cases, perforation will only happen in one ear at a time. If one of your eardrums perforates, you may feel a sudden, sharp pain, as if something pointed has been pushed deep into your inner ear. In many cases, those who suffer a perforation won’t realise it until they start experiencing other symptoms, such as:
hearing loss – you may struggle to hear, or sounds may appear muffled
pain or aching in your ear
discharge from your ear that may contain mucus, pus, or blood
tinnitus – a buzzing, or ringing noise in your ear
pain when water gets into the ear
Eardrum perforation can be caused by:
a middle ear infection (otitis media)
extreme changes in air pressure (barotrauma)
a blow to the ear
a head trauma
loud sounds or blasts (acoustic trauma)
a foreign object in the ear
At your initial consultation, one of our ENT specialists will talk to you about your symptoms, your medical history, and examine your ear. Usually, this is enough to diagnose a perforated eardrum and determine the cause.
If you have any discharge from the ear, your consultant may take a swab to test for a bacterial infection.
Additional tests may include:
a hearing test (audiometry)
a pressure test (tympanometry) – to test the function of the eardrum
It may not always be possible to prevent eardrum perforation, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk:
never insert anything into the ear, including cotton buds
treat ear infections early – see a doctor if symptoms last more than a few days
protect your ears from pressure changes, for example, when flying – chew gum, yawn, or swallow during take off and landing
protect your ears from loud noises – wear earplugs or hearing protection if you’ll be near loud or explosive noise
The eardrum acts as a barrier to protect your inner ear, and it’s also important for hearing, so if a perforation doesn’t heal, there are possible long-term complications.
Complications of a perforated eardrum:
hearing loss
repeat ear infections
skin growth behind the eardrum (cholesteatoma)
balance problems
dizziness
A perforated eardrum will usually repair on its own within a few weeks, and your hearing will return to normal.
At home care for a perforated eardrum includes:
preventing water from entering the ear – avoid swimming and use a cotton ball covered in vaseline to prevent water from entering your ear when having a bath or shower
using over-the-counter painkillers to help reduce any discomfort
completing the full course of any prescribed antibiotics to clear any infection
If the eardrum does not heal naturally, surgery may be needed to repair the perforation. This type of surgery is called myringoplasty or tympanoplasty and involves grafting a patch of tissue onto the eardrum to repair the hole. Your ENT specialist will talk to you about the best options for you, which will depend on the size and position of your hole and your hearing.
At Welbeck, our ENT specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Get in touch today to book an appointment.
Our locations
Loading
Frequently asked questions
If you have symptoms of an ear infection or a perforated eardrum that do not start to improve after a few days, it’s important to see a doctor. Treating an ear infection early can prevent eardrum perforation. It’s also important to seek medical help if:
you have sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
your hearing has been getting gradually worse over a few weeks
you have hearing loss with pain or discharge from the ear
It’s safe to fly with a perforated eardrum. If you’ve recently had surgery to repair a perforation, you should wait until your doctor has told you that it’s safe to fly.
It’s not safe to scuba dive with a perforated eardrum. You should not scuba dive following eardrum perforation until your doctor tells you it’s safe.
Sometimes, eardrum perforation can be painless and may not be noticed until other symptoms appear. Some patients also experience relief from pain when the eardrum bursts as pressure is released.
In most cases, once the eardrum heals, there will be no long-lasting effects, and hearing will return to normal.