Ruptured Eardrum Symptoms

The eardrum is a thin tissue, also called the tympanic membrane, which is found at the end of the ear canal. This tissue is oval in shape and separates the outer ear from the middle and the inner ear. It also acts as a layer that protects the delicate inner ear from external infections and dangers. It is also responsible to transfer the sounds that we hear in the outside world to the brain, by transforming it into a nerve impulse. As the eardrum is so crucial for our ability to hear what is going around, a rupture caused to the eardrum can cause damage to our hearing ability. Therefore, it is important to recognize ruptured eardrum symptoms which will help us to receive immediate treatment. However, before we know about the symptoms of ruptured eardrum, let us take a look at the reasons that can cause the eardrum to rupture.

What Causes Ruptured Eardrum

The two main reasons that can lead to a ruptured eardrum are infection and trauma. Among the two, infection is said to be the most common cause for ruptured or perforated eardrum. The virus or bacteria that enters the ear can cause pressure on the eardrum, causing it to rupture. Due to this, the infection spreads into the middle and inner ear, leading to the development of ear infections. Eardrum rupture can also be caused when a person inserts an ear bud or may be some other thing to clean the ear. Other than this, trauma caused due to falling on any side of the head can also be the reason for ruptured eardrum. Sometimes, rupture in the eardrum can also be caused due to rapid changes in pressure, i.e. while traveling in an aircraft, or practicing scuba diving, etc. Some other reasons that can cause perforated ear includes lightning blasts, sound of firecrackers, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, loud noises, etc.

Signs of a Ruptured Eardrum

Though ruptured eardrum gets cured on its own most of the time, it may cause serious problems in certain cases. Therefore, it is important to know about symptoms in detail.

• One of the most common and the first symptoms of ruptured eardrum is pain in the ears. The intensity of pain will differ from person to person, according to how much rupture has been caused to the eardrum. While some may only experience a general discomfort, others may have to suffer intense pain in the ear.
• Another symptom of rupture eardrum is drainage from the ear. When the ear gets ruptured, there are chances of fluid discharge appearing from the ears. This discharge can be clear or contain blood and pus.
• People who have suffered from ruptured eardrum may experience a humming sound in the ears. If some damage has been caused to your eardrum, you may hear buzzing, ringing and clicking sounds in your ear.
• One of the symptoms is vertigo due to which a person feels dizziness and lightheadedness. This can be accompanied with nausea and vomiting. Moreover, in some cases, people also have reported to have an upset stomach along with vertigo. However, the feeling of dizziness does not remain for a long time.
• One of the major symptoms of ruptured eardrum is hearing loss. When the eardrum gets perforated, it loses its ability to send sound waves to the brain due to which we are not able to hear anything. If the rupture is a minor one, the hearing loss will be a temporary condition which can be treated. However, if it is a severe one, the chances of bringing back the person's hearing ability is very less.

Treatment of Ruptured Eardrum

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult an ear specialist immediately. Usually, a mild ruptured eardrum does not need specialized treatment and gets cured on its own. However, the doctor may prescribe certain antibiotics and other medications to lessen the pain and to treat the infection. With this treatment, eardrum rupture will get cured within two months. Nevertheless, if the eardrum rupture is quite severe, the doctor may have to conduct an eardrum patch or surgery as a treatment for ruptured eardrum. During the healing period, special care should be taken to keep the ear away from moisture as this can cause further complications.

I hope, you now have clarity about symptoms, causes and treatment procedure for this problem. One must remember that our ears and eardrums are very sensitive and taking proper precautionary measures can help in protecting it from any rupture as well as other dangerous problems.