Perforated Eardrum: Care Instructions (2024)

FAQs

Perforated Eardrum: Care Instructions? ›

Ruptured eardrum healing time

Small holes generally start to heal over in 1-2 days, but it may take several months to completely heal. If you're still having pain, drainage, or hearing loss after 2-3 days, go talk to your doctor because you may need to start or change your treatment.

Ruptured eardrum healing time

Small holes generally start to heal over in 1-2 days, but it may take several months to completely heal. If you're still having pain, drainage, or hearing loss after 2-3 days, go talk to your doctor because you may need to start or change your treatment.

A wet ear will affect healing and may result in a serious infection. “We usually recommend placing a cotton ball covered in Vaseline in the ear when showering and avoiding putting your head under water,” Adams said. With proper care, a small, punctured eardrum may recover in a few weeks or few months.

While recovering from a perforated eardrum, kids should: Never use over-the-counter ear drops unless the doctor says to. With a hole in the eardrum, some kinds of ear drops can get into the middle ear or cochlea and cause problems. Try to keep the ear canal dry.

Anything you put into your ear canal can make the rupture worse. Don't blow your nose hard. This can damage your eardrum from the inner side out. Don't get water in your ear.

If only one eardrum is ruptured, then they may feel more comfortable sleeping on their back or on the side of the opposite ear, with the ruptured ear facing up. Side sleeping in this way may also help ear drops to absorb, if they are prescribed or recommended by a doctor.

try not to blow your nose too hard, as this can damage your eardrum as it heals. hold a warm flannel against your ear to help reduce any pain. take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain if you need to (do not give aspirin to children under 16)

Common Symptoms

A decrease in hearing: When your ear feels clogged, or there is a whistling or buzzing sound accompanied by a partial (or total) loss of hearing, these are often signs of a ruptured eardrum.

How to get water out of your ear with a perforated eardrum? ›

Do not swim until your doctor says you can. If you get water in your ears, turn your head to each side and pull the earlobe in different directions. This will help the water run out. If your ears are still wet, use a hair dryer set on the lowest heat.

Perforated Eardrum and Ruptured Eardrum – About

In many cases a perforated eardrum my never have healed on its own and is chronic. In such cases hearing loss or infections may occur. A ruptured eardrum is an eardrum that abruptly bursts. This can happen due to trauma or infection.

A ruptured eardrum from an ear infection usually isn't an emergency. In fact, the rupture often relieves pressure and pain. It usually heals within hours or days. But you should have the ear looked at by a healthcare provider within 24 hours.

Experts recommend you avoid the use of cotton swabs in your ears. The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery explains that the use of cotton-tipped swabs or other home instruments pose a serious risk of damage to the eardrum and ear bones.

Using too much hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin inside the ear, leading to inflammation and earaches. People should not use ear drops if they have an ear infection or a damaged eardrum.

When you wash your hair, use cotton lightly coated with petroleum jelly as an earplug. Or ask your doctor about using earplugs. Do not swim until your doctor says you can. If you get water in your ears, turn your head to each side and pull the earlobe in different directions.

Broccoli, kale, Swiss chard and spinach (of course) contain folate (vitamin B9), which contributes to the health of the inner ear. Loaded with vitamin D, eggs are associated with lower odds of hearing problems. Both are rich in zinc, which helps ward off infections that can affect the inner ear.