You know your eardrum might be ruptured if you have sudden ear pain that might go away, fluid (clear, pus, or bloody) draining from your ear, hearing loss, ringing (tinnitus), or dizziness (vertigo). You might also notice air escaping your ear when you blow your nose. A doctor uses an otoscope to see the tear, so seeing these signs warrants a medical check-up.
You might not know your eardrum is ruptured right away, especially if nothing hit your ear. Many people notice changes in hearing or drainage from their ear as the first signs.
There are a number of signs and symptoms that can indicate a ruptured eardrum. They include some of the following: bloody discharge from the ear with pus, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or a spinning sensation, and nausea and vomiting from the vertigo.
A ruptured eardrum usually heals on its own within weeks. Sometimes, healing takes months.
Sometimes, retracted eardrums don't cause any symptoms. But if your eardrum pulls back enough to press on the tiny bones in your middle ear (ossicles), then you could develop retracted eardrum symptoms like: Earache. A feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear.
You should also see a doctor if you continue to have symptoms after getting treatment for a perforated eardrum. Even though most perforations heal on their own, you want to take steps to make sure any hearing loss you experience is only temporary. Go to the emergency room right away if you have severe symptoms.
Symptoms of hearing loss may include:
Common Symptoms
A decrease in hearing: When your ear feels clogged, or there is a whistling or buzzing sound accompanied by a partial (or total) loss of hearing, these are often signs of a ruptured eardrum.
If you or your child has severe ear pain, bleeding ears, dizziness or hearing loss, get help right away. These are signs of a serious medical condition, especially after a blow to the head, fall or other accident. To prevent an ear injury, never put anything in your ears.
Surgery to patch a hole in the eardrum is called a tympanoplasty. Tissue from the patient is used as a graft to patch the hole. A variety of techniques may be used depending on the size of the hole, location, and if other factors such as reconnecting hearing bones, is needed in the surgery.
Three-finger test: Keep one finger at cymba conchae, second finger over posterior border of mastoid and third finger at mastoid tip. Maximum tenderness under first finger signifies tenderness over suprameatal triangle.
Diagnosing a ruptured eardrum
Your GP will look for a hole or tear in the eardrum by using a magnifying instrument called an otoscope.
To create a salt sock, take a clean sock and fill it with coarse sea salt. Warm the salt sock in the microwave for a few seconds, ensuring that it is not too hot. Gently place the warm salt sock over the affected ear and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. The heat from the salt sock can help reduce pain and inflammation.
A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear in the eardrum. It is not usually painful but can be uncomfortable. A perforated eardrum usually heals within a few weeks or months provided the ear is kept dry and there's no infection.
Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), as needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to.
Don't
Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include:
Your doctor will note any signs of damage in your ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear. For example, your doctor may see blood or fluid in your ear, or a hole in your eardrum. If your doctor suspects inner ear injury, bone fractures, or nerve damage, you may get imaging tests.
A ruptured eardrum from an ear infection usually isn't an emergency. In fact, the rupture often relieves pressure and pain. It usually heals within hours or days. But you should have the ear looked at by a healthcare provider within 24 hours.
What does a ruptured eardrum sound like? A ruptured eardrum can cause a sudden sharp pain in the ear, often followed by a ringing or buzzing sound known as tinnitus. Some people describe hearing a popping or cracking noise at the moment of rupture.
Earwax blockage that has no symptoms can sometimes clear on its own. But if you have signs and symptoms of earwax blockage, talk to your healthcare professional. Signs and symptoms may signal another condition.
Tests that study how well the inner ear is working include:
Potential Causes
Here are some of the most frequent causes: Earwax blockage: When earwax builds up excessively, it can prevent sound from reaching the eardrum. Fluid accumulation: Often linked to sinus infections, allergies or colds, fluid in the middle ear can create a plugged or muffled sensation.
At the time it ruptures, you may feel a sudden, sharp pain in your ear, followed by bleeding, hearing loss, and tinnitus. If an ear infection causes your rupture, your pain may suddenly get intense, followed by a feeling of relief as the pressure in your ear goes down.