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Eardrum Hole

Eardrum Hole

A ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation) is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear (eardrum). A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make the middle ear vulnerable to infections. A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. But sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include:

  • Ear pain that may subside quickly
  • Mucuslike, pus-filled or bloody drainage from the ear
  • Hearing loss
  • Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
  • Spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • Nausea or vomiting that can result from vertigo