What happens if your eardrum pops

This can cause a hearing problem, which often is temporary. Call the doctor right away if your child has any symptoms of a perforated eardrum. Even though most perforations heal on their own, it's important to make sure any hearing loss is temporary. To check for a perforated eardrum, doctors check the ear canal with a lighted instrument called an otoscope. Often, a doctor can see the tear and sometimes the tiny bones of the middle ear. In some cases, fluid draining from the ear can make it hard to see the eardrum.

Most perforated eardrums heal on their own in a few weeks without treatment. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease pain. To help prevent or treat an infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. These might be a pill that your child swallows, but sometimes can be ear drops. If the eardrum doesn't heal on its own in a few weeks, an ear-nose-throat ENT specialist may recommend an eardrum patch. In this procedure, a doctor puts a paper patch over the hole.

Doctors may need to do this a few times until the eardrum fully heals. If these treatments don't work, the ENT specialist might recommend a tympanoplasty. In this surgery, the surgeon attaches a small patch of the patient's own tissue or a man-made material to close the eardrum tear.

You can't prevent all perforated eardrums, such as those caused by an infection. But some are avoidable. The tip of this goes into your ear, but it only goes in a little way and should not hurt.

Perforated eardrums do not always need to be treated because they often get better by themselves within a few weeks. While it heals, the following tips can help you relieve your symptoms and reduce the chances of your ear becoming infected:.

If you have an ear infection caused by a perforated eardrum, a GP may prescribe antibiotics. If the hole in your eardrum is big, or does not heal in a few weeks, the GP may refer you to an ear specialist to talk about having surgery to repair a perforated eardrum. This can help doctors decide which antibiotic is best for treating the infection. Usually, a perforated eardrum will heal on its own within a few weeks without any treatment.

While the eardrum is healing, over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease any pain. Ask your health care professional or a parent which pain relievers are best for you. To help prevent infections or treat any existing infections , a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually a pill that you'll swallow, but sometimes can be ear drops.

If your eardrum doesn't heal on its own, an ear-nose-throat ENT specialist may recommend an eardrum patch. During this procedure, a doctor puts a paper patch over the hole. Doctors may need to do this procedure a number of times until the eardrum is fully healed. If all other treatments fail, the ENT specialist might have to do a kind of surgery known as a tympanoplasty.

The surgeon will attach a small patch of your own tissue to close the tear on your eardrum. Sometimes you can't prevent a perforated eardrum like when an eardrum ruptures because of infection, for example. Perforated Eardrum. Barotrauma is most often caused by air pressure changes associated with air travel.

Other events that can cause sudden changes in pressure — and possibly a ruptured eardrum — include scuba diving and a direct blow to the ear, such as the impact of an automobile air bag. If your eardrum ruptures, uncommon problems can occur, especially if it fails to self-heal after three to six months. Possible complications include:. Middle ear cyst cholesteatoma. Although very rare, this cyst, which is composed of skin cells and other debris, can develop in your middle ear as a long-term result of eardrum rupture.

Ear canal debris normally travels to your outer ear with the help of ear-protecting earwax. If your eardrum is ruptured, the skin debris can pass into your middle ear and form a cyst. A cyst in your middle ear provides a friendly environment for bacteria and contains proteins that can damage the bones of your middle ear.

Protect your ears during flight. If possible, don't fly if you have a cold or an active allergy that causes nasal or ear congestion. During takeoffs and landings, keep your ears clear with pressure-equalizing earplugs, yawning or chewing gum. Or use the Valsalva maneuver — gently pushing air into your nose, as if blowing your nose, while pinching your nostrils and keeping your mouth closed.

Don't sleep during ascents and descents. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.