Perforated Eardrum

A burst eardrum (also called a perforated eardrum) means there's a hole or tear in the thin layer of skin inside your ear that helps you hear. It sounds scary, but most burst eardrums heal on their own.

What Causes a Burst Eardrum?

Your eardrum can burst suddenly after:

• An ear infection
• Getting hit on your ear
• Hearing a very loud noise
• Flying in a plane (when air pressure changes quickly)

What Are the Symptoms?

If you have a burst eardrum, you'll usually notice symptoms in just one ear. These include:

• Not hearing as well as usual
• A ringing or buzzing sound in your ear
• Earache or pain in your ear
• Itching inside your ear
• Clear fluid, blood or yellow discharge coming from your ear
• Feeling dizzy
• Having a high temperature

When to Get Help Urgently

Speak to your GP urgently or call NHS 111 if:

• You suddenly can't hear properly in one or both ears
• Your hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
• You have hearing loss plus other symptoms like earache or discharge from your ear

Even if it turns out to be nothing serious, it's important to get checked quickly as some hearing problems need fast treatment.

How Is It Treated?

The good news is that most burst eardrums get better by themselves within 2 months. Your hearing should return to normal during this time.

Your GP might give you antibiotics if:

• You have an ear infection
• They want to prevent an infection while your eardrum heals

Sometimes, if your eardrum isn't healing properly, you might need a small operation to repair it. This is called myringoplasty surgery.

Speak to your GP if your symptoms haven't started improving after a few weeks.

What You Can Do at Home

Do:

• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• Put a large piece of cotton wool covered in petroleum jelly in your outer ear when washing your hair to keep water out

Don't:

• Go swimming or get your ear wet until it's healed
• Put anything inside your ear, like cotton buds or eardrops (unless your doctor tells you to)
• Blow your nose too hard, as this can damage your healing eardrum

Can You Fly with a Burst Eardrum?

Yes, it's safe to fly if you have a burst eardrum. However, if you've had surgery to repair your eardrum, don't fly until your surgeon says it's safe.

Remember

While a burst eardrum can be uncomfortable and worrying, most heal completely without any lasting problems. The key is to keep your ear dry, avoid putting anything inside it, and be patient while it heals.

If you're concerned about your symptoms or they're not improving, don't hesitate to speak to your GP for advice and reassurance.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.