What happens if you burst your eardrum

Each of us has a tympanic membrane, or eardrum, inside our ears. The tympanic membrane serves as a divider between our middle ear and the outer ear canal in the form of a thin tissue.

When we talk about eardrum rupture, what we refer to is a tear or a hole in that tympanic membrane. Did you know the term refers to the condition of a ruptured eardrum? Although it is rare, this condition can also possibly lead to a permanent loss of hearing.

When sound waves enter your ears, the first activity is a vibration in the tympanic membrane, which continues through the bones of your middle ear. This vibration amplifies sound, so if the eardrum suffers any damage, you can see how it may affect your ability to hear. When it is not too severe, the ruptured eardrum generally heals within a couple of weeks without needing any treatment.

However, if the rupture is more severe, then it may require surgical treatment to heal. To verify if you are suffering from a ruptured eardrum, you must take note of the following ruptured eardrum symptoms. When you consult a doctor for help with your ruptured eardrum, they may diagnose it in any of the following ways:. In case you require more extensive treatment options or specialized examinations, you may have to consult an ENT doctor i. Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. If you are suffering from a ruptured eardrum, you may want to know how to treat it.

Most treatment options generally aim to relieve the pain and keep infections from occurring. The treatment options for ruptured eardrum are:. To understand what complications can arise in case your eardrum ruptures, you need to understand the primary roles of your tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane does the following:.

Possible complications may arise in the event your ruptured eardrum fails to heal within three to six months:. Ruptured eardrums are not necessarily the result of human error, but sometimes we can take certain measures to prevent our eardrums from suffering damage.

Here is what you can do to prevent eardrum rupturing:. A ruptured eardrum is an easily treatable condition and you can expect a full recovery within a short time, provided you seek treatment promptly.

Many people have been able to avoid potential damage to their ears by seeking a consultation in the earliest stage and availing the right treatment. With the right experts and the right course of treatment, your eardrum will be able to perform at maximum potential again. 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. During tympanoplasty, your surgeon takes tissue from another area of your body and grafts it onto the hole in your eardrum. At home, you can ease the pain of a ruptured eardrum with heat and pain relievers. Placing a warm, dry compress on your ear several times daily can help.

Promote healing by not blowing your nose any more than absolutely necessary. Blowing your nose creates pressure in your ears.

Trying to clear your ears by holding your breath, blocking your nose, and blowing also creates high pressure in your ears. If your eardrum is ruptured, fluid from these drops can get deep into your ear. This can cause further issues. Eardrum ruptures can happen much more frequently in children because of their sensitive tissue and narrow ear canals. Any kind of small foreign object, such as a pencil or hairpin, can also damage or rupture their eardrum if inserted too far into their ear canal.

Ear infections are the most common cause of eardrum ruptures in children. Teach your child not to stick objects in their ear. In addition, try to avoid flying with your child if they have a cold or a sinus infection. The pressure changes could damage their eardrums.

A ruptured eardrum often heals without any invasive treatment. Most people with ruptured eardrums experience only temporary hearing loss. Even without treatment, your eardrum should heal in a few weeks. Full recovery, especially after treatment or surgical procedures, typically occurs within eight weeks. Eardrum ruptures can be easily prevented if you protect your hearing and avoid injury or putting objects in your ear. Many infections that cause ruptures can be treated at home with rest and by protecting your ears.

However, see your doctor if you notice discharge from your ear or you experience severe ear pain for more than a few days. There are plenty of successful diagnostic and treatment options for ruptured eardrums.

Eardrum repair is a surgical procedure used to fix a hole or tear in the eardrum tympanic membrane. This injury can occur after exposure to a…. A perforated or burst eardrum is a hole in the eardrum. It'll usually heal within a few weeks and might not need any treatment. But it's a good idea to see a GP if you think your eardrum has burst, as it can cause problems such as ear infections. Signs of a perforated eardrum, or an ear infection caused by a perforated eardrum, include:. The symptoms will usually pass once your eardrum has healed or any infection has been treated.