Do I Have Ruptured Eardrum (Perforated Eardrum)?

Do you have often feel a pain in your ear (usually sharp) that may fade out after a while?

Do you have drainage from your ear that could be clear, mucus like, pus-filled or bloody?

Do you experience hearing loss that may be partial (you hear speech and other sounds muffled, and have difficulty understanding the words) or complete in the affected ear?

Do you experience ringing or buzzing in your ear (tinnitus)?

Do you experience dizziness (vertigo - a spinning sensation, like the room is moving with loss of balance)?

Do you experience nausea or vomiting that can be caused by vertigo?

Did you have an ear infection?

Have you recently been swimming or diving, or traveling by plane (in the past few days or weeks)?

Have you been exposed to loud sounds or blast (an explosion or gunshot)?

Did you fall on your ear, got hit in the ear or injured your head otherwise?

Have you put anything in your ear in order to clean it, such as a cotton swab or hairpin?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have ruptured eardrum. Eardrum or tympanic membrane is a thin layer of tissue that transmits sound vibrations from the outer air to the auditory ossicles in your middle ear. Your symptoms may indicate ear infection or irritation, so it is best to contact your doctor for evaluation of your symptoms. Appropriate therapy can prevent complications and potential damage to your eardrum. Also, do not try to dig out excess earwax with items such as a cotton swab, paper clip or hairpin as you can easily puncture the eardrum.

Based on your answers, there is a high possibility that you have a ruptured eardrum. Ruptured eardrum means that there is a hole or tear in your eardrum, which is a thin layer of tissue that separates the ear canal from your middle ear. A ruptured eardrum can cause hearing loss and frequent middle ear infections. It is important to contact your GP or the ENT specialist for evaluation of your symptoms. In the meantime, be careful to keep your ears dry to prevent infection. Most ruptured eardrum heals within a few weeks without treatment but sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.