A ruptured eardrum is also called a perforated eardrum by medical professionals.
Theeardrumis a thin membrane that separates the ear canal from the middle ear.
Some people suffer from chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction, and this condition can actually weaken the eardrum over time.
Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum can include:
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a ruptured eardrum is not usually difficult.
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and the circumstances of the rupture.
Then the healthcare provider will examine your eardrum with an instrument called an otoscope.
Treatment
The treatment of a ruptured eardrum is not usually complicated.
This procedure is called a myringoplasty or tympanoplasty.
You should keep water out of your ear until the perforation has healed to avoid infection.
Your healthcare provider will give you more detailed instruction about how to care for your ear after this procedure.
If your ruptured ear drum was because of underlying Eustachian tube dysfunction, this should also be treated.
You may need to be tested for allergies or have sinus problems treated.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Eardrum perforation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane.
Nemours KidsHealth.Middle ear infections (otitis media).
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Ruptured eardrum.
