Symptoms of a Perforated Ear Drum

A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear in the eardrum. Perforated eardrums can be caused by infections in the middle ear, foreign objects being placed into the ear and puncturing the eardrum, head trauma, loud sounds or blasts, rapid changes in pressure and injuries. Individuals who experience the symptoms of a perforated eardrum should seek out medical attention.

Drainage

• Perforated eardrums will often cause drainage, especially if the perforation is due to an infection in the ear. Drainage can be filled with pus or blood, or it can be clear.

Hearing Loss

• A person who has a perforated eardrum may experience hearing loss. This hearing loss may be mild or severe.

Pain

• A person who has a perforated eardrum will generally feel a jolting pain that is very sudden and sharp. The intense pain goes away pretty fast, and it may be replaced with mild ear pain.

Dizziness

• It's fairly common for people to experience dizziness or vertigo when their eardrum perforates. This feeling passes quickly.

Stomach Upset

• Perforated eardrums can make an individual feel nauseous. Vomiting may also occur. The nausea is generally a result of the dizzy feeling experienced when the eardrum perforates.

Treatment

• Most perforated eardrums will heal and seal within a few weeks of the rupture without any intervention. If this fails to occur, doctors can place an eardrum patch over the perforation to seal the hole. They can also apply a chemical that will stimulate new tissue growth and aid the eardrum in closing. Eardrum surgery to close the eardrum is an option for perforations that don't respond to the eardrum patch and chemical.