Ruptured Eardrum - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments (2025)

FAQs

Ruptured Eardrum - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments? ›

A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make the middle ear vulnerable to infections. A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. But sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.

What causes a ruptured eardrum? Middle ear infections are the most common reason for ruptured eardrums. Other ways you may develop a ruptured eardrum include: Foreign objects: You can rupture your eardrum by using cotton swabs or other small pointed objects to clean your ears or scratch an itch in your ear.

Most ruptured (perforated) eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks. Your provider may prescribe antibiotic drops if there's evidence of infection. If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn't heal by itself, treatment will likely involve procedures to close the tear or hole.

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.

Most small eardrum perforations will heal within three to six weeks. Other eardrums may heal many months after the initial rupture. This time frame varies depending on the size of the hole in your eardrum. Your ear may take longer to heal if you have an ear infection or other complications.

You may not notice any symptoms until your eardrum ruptures, especially if it's caused by a sudden noise or injury. Once your eardrum ruptures, you may have the following, usually in one ear: Sudden, sharp ear pain or, if you've had pain from an ear infection, a sudden decrease in ear pain.

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.

To ease pain, put a warm face cloth or a heating pad set on low on your ear. You may have some drainage from the ear. Be careful when taking over-the-counter cold or influenza (flu) medicines and Tylenol at the same time. Many of these medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol.

Symptoms of a perforated eardrum

Signs of a perforated eardrum or ear infection caused by a perforated eardrum include: sudden hearing loss – you may find it difficult to hear anything or your hearing may just be slightly muffled. earache or pain in your ear. itching in your ear.

What happens if a ruptured eardrum goes untreated? ›

And know that seeking care is crucial because, left untreated, a non-healing ruptured eardrum can lead to serious complications, including hearing loss and chronic or recurrent middle ear infections.

So what's the worst that could happen? Vigorous blowing of the nose can cause esophageal lacerations and severe headaches due to air being pushed into the skull. Although unlikely, blowing your nose too hard can also cause a perforated eardrum or even a ruptured eye socket.

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.

Normally a doctor can diagnose a bacterial ear infection by looking at the eardrum. It will be bulging and have pus behind it. If the eardrum ruptures, the eardrum can't be seen because it's covered with pus. So the presence of the discharge makes the diagnosis.

A perforated eardrum can cause a lot of pain. It can also affect hearing, but this usually is temporary. A tear in the eardrum can allow bacteria and other things to get into the middle ear and inner ear. This could lead to an infection that might cause more permanent hearing damage.

Many people experience clogged ears at some point. Allergies, head colds, pregnancy, and changes in air pressure are common reasons it may feel like your ears are full. Typically, plugged ears settle after a few days.

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.

In most cases, a ruptured eardrum isn't serious, but it's important to see your health care provider or an ear, nose and throat specialist so they can assess and treat accordingly. If there is an infection that caused the perforation, they'll most likely want to prescribe antibiotics to treat it first.

Keep pressure off the ear that has a ruptured eardrum. If you have a ruptured eardrum in just one ear, sleep on the other side of your body. Or if you usually sleep on your back or you have ruptures in both eardrums, sleep with your head elevated a couple of inches above the rest of your body.