A perforated eardrum is one of the symptoms that may be present when a person has an ear infection. However, it doesn't necessarily need to be brought on by this condition, as other medical causes are possible. Another name that is used to describe it is tympanic membrane perforation. Let's take a look at some more information about this situation.

Causes

Having an ear infection can lead to a perforated eardrum. However, it can also mistakenly be brought on during surgery. Noises that are loud enough may also cause the eardrum to break. Physical trauma can also cause this to happen, such as if something pointed is used in the ear. If a person with a strong cold flies, then the situation may also be brought on.

Complications

Having a perforated eardrum leads to a situation that is known as conductive hearing loss. In most cases brought on by this cause, the patient's hearing completely recovers after a period of time. However, if an infection lasts for a long enough time, then hearing loss may persist.

Conductive hearing loss can occur for various other reasons, including something as simple as earwax.

Healing process

The broken eardrum may heal in a matter of weeks, but in some cases this process can take months to be completed. Medical assistance may be required in some instances, and even surgery may be necessary for healing in certain situations.

You can read more about ear infection symptoms and other issues related to this condition by returning to the home page.