A ruptured,\nor perforated, eardrum is a tear in the thin membrane that separates the inner\near from the middle ear. The eardrum is an important part of how people hear,\nas it is instrumental in the process of converting a sound wave that enters the\near into an electrical signal that gets sent to the brain. The eardrum also\nworks as a barrier to keep water and other objects from entering the middle\near. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ear infections\nare the most common cause of a ruptured eardrum. An infection in the middle ear\ncreates pressure; this pressure pushes against the eardrum. If the pressure\ngets too great, the eardrum can tear. Pressure changes, such as what occurs\nwhen a plane changes altitude quickly, can also cause a tear. Foreign objects\ninserted into the ear, head injury or acoustic trauma resulting from an\nextremely loud noise have been known to cause tears to the eardrum as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The symptoms\nexperienced by those with a ruptured eardrum can vary. The most common symptoms\nare a sudden sharp pain, drainage from the ear, buzzing or hearing loss. Some\nmay not feel anything at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the first\nsign any of these symptoms, contact a doctor as soon as possible. To confirm\nthe diagnosis, the doctor will use an otoscope, a device with a light on the\nend, to look inside the ear. Usually, the hole or tear is visible. In order to\ntest if the ruptured eardrum has affected hearing, the doctor will also perform\nsome hearing tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The treatment\nfor a tear in the eardrum is minimal; usually the eardrum will heal on its own\nwithin three months. To prevent ear\ninfections, the patient may be prescribed antibiotic drops. To prevent pain,\nover-the-counter pain medication can be taken. \nIf the eardrum is slow to heal or the perforation is too large, surgery\nmay be needed. The doctor will use a piece of the patient\u2019s own tissue to mend\nthe tear in a simple, outpatient procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n