A ruptured eardrum, medically known as a tympanic membrane perforation, is damage to the ear drum or a hole in the tympanic membrane. Size of the hole may vary. Usually trauma to the ear, and ear infection due to cold or sore throat can cause this rupture of the ear membrane.
At our ENT Clinic in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, we examine and diagnose the ruptured ear drum using video otoscopy and hearing tests. We offer medical and surgical treatment for ear drum perforations. Our aim is to control the infection, relieve symptoms such as ear discharge, ear pain or hearing loss and help the tympanic membrane heal naturally on its own.
If it fails to heal naturally then microscopic surgery for the ruptured ear drum (myringoplasty or tympanoplasty) may be needed to repair the perforation. Dr archana Jhawar, ENT specialist with 24 years’ experience ensures most appropriate treatment based on the size and the cause of the hole in the ear drum.
Eardrum rupture or hole can be due to various reasons, such as
Severe middle ear infections (otitis media) leading to fluid buildup and increased pressure on the eardrum.
If you recognize the signs of a ruptured ear drum, it helps you to decide when to visit an ENT specialist near you. Common symptoms of ruptured ear drum include:
In the early stages most cases of ruptured tympanic membrane can heal naturally on its own. We at our Vashi ENT clinic follow watchful wating (under supervision of periodic follow up for a month) for acute cases. However, certain treatment measures can aid this spontaneous healing process. Such as
Microscopic ear surgeries such as myringoplasty, tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty surgeries may be advised for hole in the ear drum.
Dr Archana Jhawar is senior ENT Specialist in Vashi Navi Mumbai with 24 years of experience in treating tympanic membrane perforation. She has performed thousands of successful tympanoplsty surgeries in Navi Mumbai. You can consult her at Neoalta ENT Vashi, Navi Mumbai and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital koparkhairne, Navi Mumbai.
Ruptured ear drum or hole in the tympanic membrane have tendency to heal itself if it has happened for the first time and recently. However, control of infection and causative factor control is needed to help heal naturally. Visit ENT specialist near you to initiate treatment early so that there are more chances to recover. Long standing non healing hole more than 3-4 months may require surgery to repair.
Hole in the ear drum or ruptured eardrum usually take 21-28 days to recover, depending upon your bodies healing capacity, size of the hole and other associated conditions. If healing process is slow, it may take 2-3 month. If it does not heal naturally, visit an ENT Surgeon near you.
Some cases of hole in the ear drum may heal naturally and surgery may not be needed. However, if it fails to heal or becomes recurrent condition then patching or a microscopic ear surgery may be needed to repair the hole.
Please keep the ear dry to prevent ear infection. Avoid water entry during shower, avoid swimming or any water sport.
you can use soft cotton coated with petroleum jelly during bath to prevent water entry in the ear.
Hearing loss because of a ruptured eardrum is usually temporary and treatable. Once the eardrum heals, hearing usually comes back to normal. However, if the hole is large or any complications happen some hearing loss may persist.
