Ruptured eardrum: When your ear pain may be more serious than you think

May 14, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

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By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
I have seen quite a few patients who had ear pains and didn’t know the seriousness of it. Sometimes ear pains are as a result of a ruptured eardrum and patients ignore it until it becomes complicated. As serious as it is, having a ruptured eardrum may not be the end of your hearing. Today we will discuss some facts about a ruptured eardrum.
WHAT IS IT?
The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates your ear canal (the part that is open to the outside) from your middle ear. The eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, is involved in hearing. Sound waves cause your eardrum to vibrate. This begins the process of converting the sound waves into an impulse that travels to your brain, where it is recognized as sound.
The eardrum is delicate and can be torn (ruptured) easily, most often by an infection of the middle ear (otitis media) but also by other types of trauma, including:
• Inserting an object, such as a cotton swab or toothpick, too far into the ear
• A very loud noise, such as an explosion
• Trauma to the head, such as a skull fracture
• A blow to the ear
• Trauma to the ear caused by changes in air pressure (barotraumas), such as during a plane flight or scuba diving
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum include:
• Earache or sudden relief of an earache
• Hearing loss in the affected ear
• Bleeding or fluid discharge from the ear canal
• Ringing noise in the ear
The level of hearing loss depends on the size of the perforation and what caused it. Trauma to the ear or head can injure the middle ear, inner ear or both, and can cause severe hearing loss. If an explosion has torn the eardrum, you may have ringing in your ears (tinnitus) for several days, as well as hearing loss. If the perforated eardrum becomes infected, the hearing loss may worsen.
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor will look into your ear using an instrument called an otoscope to see if the eardrum is torn. He or she will also test your hearing. If the doctor suspects you have a ruptured eardrum but cannot see the perforation easily, he or she may confirm the diagnosis by blowing pressurized air into your ear using a special machine.
HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
There are several steps you can take to prevent a perforated eardrum:
• You can reduce the risk of a perforated eardrum by preventing middle ear infections. To help prevent infections, minimize certain environmental conditions – exposure to tobacco smoke and allergens – and avoid direct contact with people with a cold or flu.
• Do not insert cotton swabs into the ear canal during cleaning because this can tear the eardrum.
• If an object gets into your ear, have it removed by your doctor to minimize the risk of ear injury. Don’t try to take out the object yourself unless you can see it clearly, it is soft and you can remove it easily.
• Have all infections treated promptly to avoid complications. Having a throat infection can lead to an ear infection and a ruptured eardrum.
HOW IS IT TREATED?
If the hole is small, your doctor may allow it to heal on its own. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics while the eardrum heals.
Keep water out of the injured ear. Avoid blowing your nose, which can cause pressure changes in the ear and disrupt healing.
Some holes may be patched in the office of an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor). A thin paper patch is placed over your eardrum in combination with a chemical that encourages the eardrum to heal.
If your eardrum has not healed after two months, your doctor may recommend a surgery called tympanoplasty, which involves using tissue from another area to patch the eardrum. This is usually an outpatient procedure and has a high success rate.
While your ear is healing from the surgery, keep your ear dry by using cotton balls covered with Vaseline to protect your eardrum from water during showers or baths. Also, avoid blowing your nose, which can damage the healing tissue.
Warm compresses, such as a warm, damp washcloth, or a heating pad set on low heat can relieve some discomfort. Your doctor also may prescribe pain-relieving medication or recommend that you use over-the-counter pain medications.
WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS LIKE?
The outlook is excellent. Most perforated eardrums heal within two months without complications. Hearing loss is usually temporary, though some people experience some level of permanent hearing loss. Occasionally, a chronic (long-lasting) infection may cause the perforation to become permanent along with some degree of hearing loss. These cases may require surgery to fix or replace your eardrum. In any case, your best chance lies in seeing your doctor early.

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