Why does an eardrum rupture

You can't prevent all perforated eardrums, such as those caused by an infection. But some are avoidable. Reviewed by: Patrick C. Barth, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Perforated Eardrum?

What Does the Eardrum Do? What Causes a Perforated Eardrum? Many things can tear an eardrum, such as: Using cotton swabs. Sticking anything into the ears raises the risk of infection or damage to the ear canal or eardrum.

Cotton swabs are handy for grooming needs, but should not be used to clean the ears or remove earwax. Sudden pressure changes barotraumas. Most of the time, the air pressure in the middle ear and the pressure in the environment are in balance.

But things like flying in an airplane , driving on a mountain road, or scuba diving can cause a sudden change in pressure that can rupture an eardrum. Loud noises acoustic trauma. Very loud noises, like an explosion, can create sound waves strong enough to damage the eardrum. Loud noise also can cause temporary or permanent damage to the cochlea.

Head trauma. A direct blow to the ear or a severe head injury from something like a car crash can fracture break the skull bone and tear the eardrum.

Direct trauma to the pinna and outer ear canal. A slap on the ear with an open hand or other things that put pressure on the ear can tear the eardrum. Ear infections. An infection of the middle ear or inner ear can cause pus or fluid buildup behind the eardrum. The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea. The external structures of the ear may aid in diagnosing some conditions by the presence or absence of normal landmarks and abnormal features including earlobe creases, preauricular pits, and preauricular tags.

Mastoiditis is an infection of the bony air cells in the mastoid bone, located just behind the ear. It is rarely seen today because of the use of antibiotics to treat ear infections. This child has drainage from the ear and redness erythema behind the ear over the mastoid bone. The tympanic membrane eardrum separates the outer ear from the middle ear.

The membrane vibrates when sound waves strike it, beginning the process that converts the sound wave into a nerve impulse that travels to the brain.

Ear infections may cause a ruptured eardrum. This occurs more often in children. The infection causes pus or fluid to build up behind the eardrum. As the pressure increases, the eardrum may break open rupture. The health care provider will look in your ear with an instrument called an otoscope. Sometimes they will need to use a microscope for a better view. If the eardrum is ruptured, the doctor will see an opening in it.

The bones of the middle ear may also be visible. Pus draining from the ear may make it harder for the doctor to see the eardrum. If pus is present and blocking the view of the eardrum, the doctor may need to suction the ear to clear the pus. Audiology testing can measure how much hearing has been lost. When you go to a doctor with symptoms of a perforated eardrum, he or she is likely to take your medical history and ask you about what may have caused the problem, such as an injury or exposure to very loud noise.

The doctor will also need to examine your ear. To diagnose a perforated eardrum, a lighted instrument called an otoscope is used to look inside the ear and see if there is a hole or tear in the membrane. Other tests may also be done to assess hearing loss, the extent of damage to the eardrum, or the cause of the perforation. Most eardrum perforations heal without treatment. However, if you have an ear infection, or your doctor believes you are at risk of getting an ear infection before the eardrum has healed, you may need to take antibiotics.

If the eardrum does not heal properly on its own, your GP may refer you to a specialist called an ENT ear, nose and throat surgeon. If necessary, the eardrum membrane can be repaired using a surgical procedure.

Eardrum repairs are usually successful. It is usually safe to fly with a perforated eardrum. It may actually cause less discomfort than flying with a normal eardrum, as the pressure is more easily able to equalise due to the hole in the eardrum.

Perforated eardrum. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Ruptured eardrum updated Jan Sudden onset hearing loss: Causes, investigation and management. Australian Family Physician ; NHS Choices. Perforated eardrum updated March Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. November Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Clinical Practice Guidelines. Ear wax management. Skip to content. Symptoms of a perforated eardrum Signs and symptoms that you may have a perforated eardrum include: hearing loss this can vary in severity, depending on how bad the rupture is ; pain in the ear especially if the ear was injured, or becomes infected ; discharge of fluid from the ear this may be clear, or contain pus or blood ; noise , such as ringing or buzzing in the ear tinnitus ; dizziness or a spinning sensation vertigo ; earache or pain that suddenly goes away when the eardrum ruptures it releases the pressure that has built up due to a middle ear infection ; air coming out of your ear when you blow your nose normally air rises up in the middle ear when you blow your nose, but if you have a perforated eardrum the air escapes making a noise.

What to do if you think you have a perforated eardrum If you think you may have a perforated eardrum, see your doctor for advice. Author: myDr. Norman Healthy Eating March 21, ,. Can oxygen restore hearing? Hearing Health July 25, ,.