Our ears are incredibly sensitive and damage to the inner ear can result in agonising pain. If you’ve ever experienced a perforated eardrum, you will agree. For those who haven’t, what is a perforated eardrum and what happens when this occurs?
What is a perforated eardrum?
A perforated eardrum is essentially a hole or tear in the eardrum, causing severe pain, hearing loss, dizziness, itching within the ear, a ringing or buzzing sound in one or both ears, a high temperature, and/or fluid coming from the ear canal. The associated symptoms are usually displayed very quickly after the damage has been done.
How do you get a perforated eardrum?
If you’ve managed to damage your eardrum, then you’ll likely have been hit in the affected area, exposed to a loud sound, had an ear infection or been affected by pressure changes, such as from being on a flight.
A routine hearing test Cheltenham, with https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/cheltenham/ for example, may lead to a pre-diagnosis of an eardrum issue, but is always best to visit your GP if you suspect your ear needs medical treatment.
How to treat a perforated eardrum?
In theory, a perforated eardrum should clear up within eight weeks, but if it does not, then antibiotics may be required to help treat an infection that might be preventing your ear from repairing itself. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if your GP does not want to risk you getting an infection while your torn eardrum heals.
In rare cases, surgery is required to repair the burst eardrum, in a process called myringoplasty.
How to soothe a perforated eardrum in the short-term
As you can expect, any damage to the ear can cause great discomfort. Experts suggest that you take over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol to relieve pain, while also protecting the affected ear from water by covering it up in the shower. The NHS website advises placing a large cotton wool ball covered in petroleum jelly in the outer ear to prevent water from trickling and potentially causing an infection risk.