If you’ve had sudden hearing loss, tinnitus (a ringing in the ears), fever, or noticed a discharge from your ear, you may have an eardrum perforation. There are several possible causes of a perforated eardrum, and while there are a few tell-tale signs of the condition you can look out for at home, it’s important to know the cause of a blocked or painful ear to know how to treat it. A trip to your local doctor or Bay Audiology clinic for a professional opinion is a must if you think you have an eardrum perforation.
If you’ve had sudden hearing loss, tinnitus (a ringing in the ears), fever, or noticed a discharge from your ear, you may have an eardrum perforation. There are several possible causes of a perforated eardrum, and while there are a few tell-tale signs of the condition you can look out for at home, it’s important to know the cause of a blocked or painful ear to know how to treat it. A trip to your local doctor or Bay Audiology clinic for a professional opinion is a must if you think you have an eardrum perforation.
Put simply, an eardrum perforation (or burst eardrum) is when there is a hole in the eardrum – a thin, delicate, oval layer of tissue that sits deep in the ear canal and protects the middle and inner ear. Having a perforated eardrum can lead to repeated ear infections, poorer hearing and hearing loss if not treated.
There are many possible causes of eardrum perforation. Ear infections are one common cause of a burst eardrum, especially in children, as the pressure of a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum can cause the delicate tissue to rupture.
Changes in pressure whereby the pressure outside the ear is drastically different to the pressure inside the ear (such as those experienced while scuba diving, on an aeroplane, and driving at high altitudes) can also lead to a burst eardrum. Shock waves, as well as a strong, direct impact to the ear, may also lead to eardrum perforation, as can extremely loud noises (though this isn’t as common).
Physical injury to the ear and side of the head, such as getting hit in the ear or falling on your ear, may cause a perforated eardrum, as can direct trauma, such as inserting foreign objects like cotton buds, fingers, pens or pencils too far into the ear.
There are several tell-tale signs you may have a ruptured eardrum, and most will pass once your eardrum has healed. Let’s take a look at some of the common perforated eardrum symptoms.
Do perforated eardrums heal? The good news is, they generally do. However, it can take several weeks to months – and while they don’t always require treatment, it’s important to see your healthcare professional if you experience any of the above symptoms. If healing doesn’t happen as it should, your doctor may recommend a tympanoplasty surgery to repair the eardrum's hole.
If you’re in pain, over-the-counter painkillers may help ease the discomfort, and if the rupture was due to an ear infection, a doctor could prescribe antibiotics to clear up the underlying cause.
You may be wondering, ‘is a perforated eardrum an emergency?’. Thankfully, this is rarely the case. However, it is still something that you ought to speak to a GP or other healthcare professional about to ensure you receive the right diagnosis and antibiotic treatment if an infection has caused the eardrum to burst.
It’s also important to seek help from a medical professional if you’ve already seen your doctor, but the symptoms are not improving (or are getting worse). Your doctor may recommend surgery if the rupture is large.
Prevention is, of course, the best cure, and while you can’t always safeguard against eardrum perforation, there are many steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of this happening to you. Never put cotton buds or any other objects into your ears (eg. to remove earwax), treat ear infections as soon as they appear (so they don’t linger and cause fluid build-up), try to keep your ear pressure stabilised (chewing gum or forcing a yawn can help with this) and wear ear plugs when you know you’ll be exposed to loud noises (including music concerts and construction sites).
If you’re experiencing ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus or any other symptoms of a perforated eardrum, find a Bay Audiology near you and make an appointment to see one of our friendly professionals.
