Eardrum Retraction

In some cases, a retracted eardrum won’t cause any symptoms at all. However, if your eardrum pulls back far enough to put pressure on the ossicles (tiny bones in your middle ear), you may experience the following symptoms:

• earache or pain

• a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear

• drainage of fluid from your ear (otorrhea)

• temporary hearing loss

• permanent hearing loss

A retracted eardrum is caused by an imbalance of air pressure inside and outside the ear. This is often caused by blockages in the tubes that connect the inner ear to the throat (the Eustachian tubes). These blockages prevent air from entering and equalising the pressure in the ear. 

Common causes of eardrum retraction include: 

• upper respiratory infections, such as colds

• middle ear infection

• fluid in the ears 

• chronic allergies 

• sinus infections 

• enlarged tonsils or adenoids

• an unhealed eardrum perforation 

• scarring of the eardrum, which makes it less resistant to pressure changes

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 retracted eardrum and determine the cause. Your consultant will be able to assess the severity of the condition and suggest the most appropriate next steps.

It’s not always possible to prevent eardrum retraction, 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 

• manage allergies and other conditions that can lead to blocked tubes in the ears, nose and throat

If left untreated, eardrum retraction can lead to a range of complications, including: 

• hearing loss 

• repeat ear infections 

• skin growth behind the eardrum (cholesteatoma)

• eardrum perforation (a hole in the eardrum)

In mild cases, treatment is often not needed for a retracted eardrum. However, it's important to have the condition assessed to ensure it doesn’t progress and lead to further complications such as chronic infections or permanent hearing loss.

In more severe cases, particularly if the retracted eardrum is causing infection, treatment might be needed to stabilise the air pressure inside your ears.

Common surgical procedures to treat eardrum retraction include: 

• tympanostomy – small tubes are placed into the eardrum to balance the pressure in the middle ear

• tympanoplasty – surgery to repair a tear in the eardrum, if a perforation has caused the retraction

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.