Eardrum Perforation
(Perforated Eardrum; Punctured Eardrum; Ruptured Eardrum)
Your eardrum is a thin membrane (like skin) inside your ear. It's stretched tight like a drum and vibrates when sound hits it. The vibrations go into your middle and inner ear and are turned into nerve signals. The nerve signals go to your brain so you hear the sound. Your eardrum also keeps water and dirt out to protect the tiny bones inside your ear.
What is an eardrum perforation?
What causes an eardrum perforation?
What are the symptoms of an eardrum perforation?
Your symptoms depend on what caused the perforation.
An ear infection that perforates actually relieves the pain of the ear infection. An ear infection is painful because fluid or pus builds up behind your eardrum. When your eardrum gets a hole in it (perforates), the fluid drains out, lessening your pain.
If pressure change or poking something in your ear caused the perforation, you will have:
What are the complications of an eardrum perforation?
You may not have any complications or symptoms after an eardrum perforation. But some people have:
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Hearing loss
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Noise in your ear (tinnitus)
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A feeling like you're spinning or moving (vertigo)
If water or dirt gets through the perforation, you might get an ear infection.
