Even though most perforations heal on their own, you want to make sure any hearing loss you is temporary. Usually, a perforated eardrum will heal on its own within a few weeks. While the eardrum is healing, your doctor might suggest:. If your eardrum doesn't heal on its own, an ear-nose-throat ENT specialist may recommend surgery to place an eardrum patch.
The doctor puts a paper patch over the hole after applying a special medicine to make the tear heal. Doctors may need to do this procedure a few times until the eardrum is fully healed.
If the eardrum patch doesn't work, the ENT specialist might do a surgery known as a tympanoplasty. The surgeon will attach a small patch of your own tissue or use man-made material to cover the hole in your eardrum. Sometimes a perforated eardrum is caused by an infection and isn't preventable.
But many eardrum perforations are preventable. Reviewed by: Patrick C. Barth, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Perforated Eardrum?
How Does the Eardrum Work? What Causes a Perforated Eardrum? Things that can cause perforated eardrums include: Cotton swabs or other cleaning tools. These can poke through the eardrum. Sudden pressure changes barotraumas. This might happen when flying in an airplane, driving on a mountain road, or scuba diving. Loud noises acoustic trauma. Really loud noises, like an explosion or listening to loud music, can make sound waves that are strong enough to damage the eardrum.
Additionally, cotton can cause tiny cuts or microabrasions in your ear, which can increase your chances of getting an ear infection, Dr. So what should you do with all those cotton swabs? But they should not be stuck into [your ear canal]. Yes, you read that right: an elbow. Ear candling is a technique that involves using a cone-shaped lit candle to remove earwax, the Mayo Clinic says. The heat from the candle is supposed to suction the earwax so that it sticks to the candle.
Voigt says which, TBH, is enough reason to avoid ear candling. There are probably lots of earwax softeners and removal kits in your local drugstore , but Dr.
These softeners, often made from mineral oil or glycerin, do soften the wax, but Dr. Voigt says that this might cause the wax to slide farther into your ear instead of out of it. Then, when the wax hardens again, it will cause a blockage that may not have been there before you started. We keep emphasizing how bad it is to stick items in your ears because self-cleaning can increase earwax blockages. Blockages are irritating enough and downright counterproductive , but a more serious potential complication of cleaning your ears incorrectly is a perforated eardrum.
As we mentioned above, perforated or ruptured eardrums happen when you puncture or tear the tympanic membrane, that thin layer that separates your middle ear from your eardrum, the Mayo Clinic explains. Typically, your eardrum can heal on its own, but sometimes it might require surgery to patch the tear, the Mayo Clinic explains. One great way to avoid a perforated eardrum is to skip sticking anything in your ears to try to clean them.
Contact your doctor instead of trying to handle it yourself. You may just require routine wax removal, but your doctor can screen you for other conditions that might cause similar symptoms like an infection , the Mayo Clinic says. You could also find that your ear is leaking blood, pus, or mucus—plus, you might experience ringing in your ear and vertigo which includes dizziness, a spinning sensation, and nausea or vomiting , the Mayo Clinic explains.
A perforated eardrum can also result in hearing loss, and it can make you more vulnerable to ear infections, the Mayo Clinic says. If you think you have an earwax blockage, Dr. When you visit your doctor, they will examine your ears by using an otoscope, an instrument that lights and magnifies the inside of your ear, the Mayo Clinic says.
In most cases, the entire procedure can be done in a few minutes. Your ears will be clog-free, but Dr. Voigt says to be careful. For instance, Dr. Some people will notice sudden increases or decreases in ear pain. They may notice a buzzing or hearing loss. They may also have ear infections or dizziness. If you or your doctor suspects a ruptured eardrum, it is imperative to have this evaluated as soon as possible to prevent complications.
Typically the physician will use an otoscope to inspect your ear. They may also test your hearing to determine if you have any hearing loss from the ruptured eardrum. Most of the time hearing loss is temporary. When the rupture is traumatic and small, in the vast majority of cases it will heal on its own in about three months.
Your doctor may give you antibiotic drops or recommend over-the-counter painkillers for infections or pain, respectively.
It is important not to use any drops that have alcohol, which can cause severe pain and loss of hearing, or medications that are known to cause hearing loss. If the rupture is large or has been present for a long time, it may not heal and may require surgical intervention. In these cases your doctor will use either a paper patch or your own tissue to patch the hole in the eardrum. This is an outpatient procedure and is usually completed in a few hours. Ruptured eardrums can be troubling, but knowing the signs and getting care right away can get your eardrums back to top condition in no time.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. When you think you have a sinus infection, you might be worried about what to do next. First, take a moment to relax. Next, follow these steps to get back to breathing better. Despite being a common condition, there a lot of myths surrounding pink eye. Cochlear Implants. Hearing Aids. Hearing Aid Batteries. Hearing Aid Styles.
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