Overview
A ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation) is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear (eardrum).
A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make the middle ear vulnerable to infections.
A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. But sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.
Ruptured eardrum
A ruptured (perforated) eardrum prevents the proper transmission of sound waves to the middle ear and leaves the middle ear vulnerable to infectious agents, water and other foreign substances.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include:
- Ear pain that may subside quickly
- Mucuslike, pus-filled or bloody drainage from the ear
- Hearing loss
- Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
- Spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Nausea or vomiting that can result from vertigo
When to see a doctor
Call your health care provider if you have signs or symptoms of a ruptured eardrum. The middle and inner ears are made up of delicate structures that are sensitive to injury or disease. It is important to try to figure out the cause of ear symptoms and determine whether a ruptured eardrum has occurred.
