Perforated Eardrum Symptoms: What You Should Know

A perforated eardrum happens when there is a hole or tear in the eardrum, affecting hearing and sometimes causing pain or fluid discharge. Also called a ruptured drum or eardrum tear, it can result from infections, sudden pressure changes, injury, or loud sounds. Recognizing perforated eardrum symptoms early is important to prevent complications like hearing loss from perforation.

Common signs include ear pain, muffled hearing, fluid leakage, and dizziness. Visiting an ENT specialist or undergoing a hearing test can help examine the eardrum and suggest the right treatment. Understanding causes, symptoms, and proper care helps protect hearing and ensures faster recovery.

What Is a Perforated Eardrum?

A perforated eardrum is a tear or hole in the eardrum, which may vary in size. Small perforations often heal naturally, while larger tears may require medical attention. An ENT eardrum check can determine the severity of the damage and recommend the best treatment, such as observation, medication, or minor procedures.

Common Causes of a Perforated Eardrum

Understanding causes helps prevent the condition and allows timely treatment:

• Ear infections: Middle ear infections often lead to eardrum tears due to fluid and pressure buildup.
• Sudden loud noises: Explosions, concerts, or fireworks can damage the eardrum.
• Foreign objects in the ear: Poking or cleaning the ear with cotton buds or sharp objects can cause a tear.
• Barotrauma: Changes in air or water pressure during flying or diving can create a hole.
• Head trauma: Severe impacts to the head may lead to eardrum injury.

For professional evaluation, a clinic like thehearingcentre.sg provides comprehensive ENT and ear care services.

Key Perforated Eardrum Symptoms

Early recognition prevents long-term problems. Main signs include:

• Sudden Ear Pain: Sharp pain often occurs at the moment of perforation.
• Hearing Loss: Sounds may seem muffled or quieter than usual.
• Fluid or Pus Drainage: Ear discharge may indicate infection or severe tear.
• Ringing in the Ear (Tinnitus): Buzzing, hissing, or humming sounds.
• Vertigo or Dizziness: Balance issues may occur due to middle and inner ear involvement.
• Sensitivity to Sound: Loud or uncomfortable sound perception.
• Recurrent Ear Infections: Untreated perforation increases infection risk.

To assess hearing changes, an ENT clinic may perform pure tone audiometry tests or tympanometry.

Diagnosing a Perforated Eardrum

ENT specialists use simple, painless methods:

• Otoscopy: Uses a small device to view the eardrum.
• Hearing tests: Determine hearing loss from perforation.
• Tympanometry: Measures eardrum movement and middle ear function.

Prompt diagnosis prevents further complications and ensures proper treatment.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the tear size and symptoms:

1. Observation: Small perforations may heal naturally in weeks; keep the ear dry and clean.
2. Medications: Antibiotics (ear drops or oral) prevent infections.
3. Eardrum Patch: A small patch may be applied to help with healing.
4. Surgery (Tympanoplasty): For larger or non-healing tears, surgical repair may be necessary.

Hearing implants may be considered in severe cases of hearing loss.

Home Care Tips

• Avoid inserting objects into the ear.
• Keep the ear dry during showers or swimming.
• Follow prescribed medications and doctor instructions.
• Track any changes in hearing, dizziness, or discharge.

Maintaining nutrition can support recovery, and for convenience, you may enjoy home meals while healing.

Possible Complications

Ignoring symptoms can lead to:

• Chronic ear infections – repeated infections if untreated.
• Permanent hearing loss – long-term damage from untreated tears.
• Middle ear damage – fluid or infection harms structures inside the ear.
• Balance problems – dizziness or vertigo from inner ear involvement.

Early medical attention usually prevents these complications.

Preventing Eardrum Perforation

• Treat ear infections promptly.
• Avoid using cotton buds or sharp objects in the ear.
• Protect your ears from sudden loud noises.
• Equalize ear pressure during flying or diving.

Simple prevention reduces the risk of hearing loss from perforation.

Why Medical Attention Matters

Even if pain disappears, a tear may remain. Visiting an ENT specialist ensures proper healing. They can check for infections, assess hearing, and recommend treatment like observation, medication, or minor procedures. Regular checkups prevent further damage and maintain ear health.

Lifestyle Tips While Healing

• Limit loud noise exposure.
• Avoid swimming until fully healed.
• Maintain hygiene and follow prescribed drops.
• Track changes in hearing, dizziness, or discharge.

Clinics like ear measurements can help monitor progress and ensure proper recovery.

When to See a Doctor Immediately

Seek urgent care if you notice:

• Severe or worsening ear pain.
• Heavy bleeding or pus from the ear.
• Sudden or complete hearing loss.
• Persistent dizziness or vertigo.

Prompt attention reduces permanent damage and speeds recovery.

Eating Well During Recovery

A healthy diet supports healing. Nutrient-rich foods and protein help the body recover faster. While staying at home, you may explore nearby hearing aid repairs and adjustments for ongoing hearing support if needed.

Understanding the Healing Process

• Small perforations may heal in 2–6 weeks.
• Larger tears may take longer or require medical repair.
• Follow-up visits ensure proper recovery.
• Avoid water, infections, and trauma during healing.

Conclusion

A perforated eardrum can cause discomfort, hearing issues, and infections if untreated. Recognizing perforated eardrum symptoms such as pain, fluid discharge, hearing changes, and dizziness allows timely care. Most small perforations heal naturally, but larger tears may need medical attention. Following your doctor’s advice, keeping the ear dry, avoiding loud noises, and monitoring recovery ensures proper healing. Regular checkups at thehearingcentre.sg guarantee long-term ear health, preventing permanent damage. Paying attention to early symptoms and following simple care measures maintains your hearing and peace of mind.

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