Causes of Perforated Eardrum/ Ruptured Eardrum

A Perforated eardrum can be caused by a number of factors. It can happen because of an ear infection, particularly an infection of the middle ear wherein excessive pus in its vacuum is causing excessive pressure to be forced against the eardrum, making it pop. Violent head trauma can also cause a ruptured eardrum, especially if the blow has been directed at the ear. Sudden drops in air pressure can also cause a perforated ear drum; this usually happens in perforated eardrum flying, especially when the plane descends from a higher altitude to land. Suffering from flu or a cold wherein fluid manages to accumulate within the middle ear may also result to a perforated eardrum.

Perforated Eardrum Treatment

A ruptured ear drum can be treated in a number of ways, depending on the severity of the perforation and the chances of the rupture to clear by itself. Prior to actual treatment, the otolaryngologist will perform a hearing test to determine the amount of damage done to the patient. From there, the patient and doctor will decide on how the perforated eardrums will be treated.

In cases where the eardrum suffered only a small perforation, the doctor may choose to let the condition improve by itself by closing spontaneously. The doctor can also artificially help close the membrane without surgery by means of stimulating growth cells in the tympanic membrane (ear drum) while covering it with paper patches.

Perforated eardrum surgery is performed in severe cases of perforated eardrums. There are many ways to do this; a doctor can either stretch the tympanic membrane to cover the perforation or use skin grafts to draft over the hole. Whatever the surgical technique used is geared toward one goal; to close the perforation that could lead to health risks such as persistent ear infections, cystic growths, and unpleasant ear discharge.

Perforated Eardrum in Children

Parents should watch out for ruptured eardrum symptoms in children. After all, children under age 3 are more likely to suffer from perforated eardrums because of their tendency to develop ear infection and ear infection symptoms. Watch out for signs of ear infection in your children and get medical help immediately to avoid any complication such as a perforated eardrum.

Although not always painful, leaving a perforated eardrum as it is can be a health risk, especially in the case of children. If you don’t want to encounter such a problem with your ear, learn basic facts about the perforated eardrum and keep them in mind.

Common Perforated Eardrum Symptoms

Watching out for perforated eardrum symptoms can be easy if you have a basic understanding of how perforated eardrums happen. The tympanic membrane, or eardrums as we know it, is a thin membrane that conducts sound from the outer ear to the middle ear in order for us to perceive sound. The middle ear is a small air-filled cavern connected to the inner ear and a small canal called the Eustachian Tube. Sudden force or constant pressure may cause the tympanic membrane to burst, thus the occurrence of the ruptured eardrum. Many occurrences can cause a perforated eardrum, four of which will be discussed further in this article. Meanwhile, here are four common perforated eardrum symptoms you should watch out for:

• Vertigo, or a feeling that you are being ‘spinned’ and the world is turning faster than it should
• An unexplainable change in hearing (i.e. sudden hearing loss)
• Clicking, buzzing, or ringing sounds that can be heard both in noisy and quiet places
• Discharge from the ear.

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