Ruptured eardrums and hearing loss

 

A ruptured eardrum, also called a perforated eardrum or a tympanic membrane perforation, is a tear or hole in the thin tissue that separates your ear canal from your middle ear. Direct trauma to the eardrum is most commonly seen in children. 

How can you pop your eardrum? 

Common causes of an eardrum rupture include

• Ear infections
• Loud noises
• Blunt or penetrating head injuries
• Pressure changes, like during flying or diving

Inserting objects like cotton swabs into the ear can also cause damage. Eardrum rupture can also occur during ear irrigation or while removing a foreign object from the ear.

What are the signs and symptoms of eardrum rupture?

You may feel sudden and severe ear pain that goes away quickly. Other signs and symptoms include:

• Hearing loss in one ear
• Fluid or blood leaking from the ear
• Ringing or buzzing sounds (tinnitus)
• Dizziness or balance problems

Hearing loss and and ruptured eardrums

An eardrum rupture can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss. The hearing loss is more severe if the tiny bones behind the eardrum are affected or the inner ear is injured. 

An eardrum rupture requires a

• Physical examination of your cranial nerve,
• Thorough inspection of your outer ear, and
•  An otoscopy.

You will also have an early assessment of hearing loss using a tuning fork.

An audiogram before and after eardrum rupture treatment can help determine the extent and nature of your hearing loss. It will also help avoid confusion between trauma-induced and treatment-induced hearing loss.

Persistent hearing loss of 30 decibels or more, or lasting two months after the perforation has healed, may indicate injury to the tiny bones behind your eardrum. Treatment for this kind of hearing loss may include bone reconstruction or hearing aids.

Can a punctured eardrum heal?

In many cases, a punctured eardrum heals on its own within a few weeks. Eardrums ruptured due to penetrating or blunt injuries have a good chance of resolving on their own. Those from blast trauma or burns are less likely to heal on their own.

A doctor may suggest

• Pain relievers
• Antibiotic drops if there is an infection
• Bedrest
• Head elevation, and
• Stool softeners to prevent pressure in the ear from strain.

If your punctured eardrum does not heal in six months, surgery called tympanoplasty may be needed.

How to cope with a ruptured eardrum

In addition to taking pain relievers, 

• Keep the ear dry
• Avoid blowing your nose
• Sleep on the opposite side of the ruptured ear to prevent pressure on the affected ear

Always see a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a ruptured eardrum. Early care can prevent infection and protect your hearing.

^Sources:

^{- Ghent University Hospital. Middle ear damages.}

^{- Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. Spontaneous healing of traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.} 

^{- PubMed Central. Tympanoplasty Outcomes: A Review of 789 Cases.}

^{- Springer Nature Link. Tympanoplasty.}