Contents:
- Medical Video: Tympanic Membrane Perforation (Hole in the Ear Drum)
- What is the eardrum
- The characteristics of the eardrum rupture
- Treatment for a ruptured eardrum
Medical Video: Tympanic Membrane Perforation (Hole in the Ear Drum)
Did you know that the eardrum can rupture to make hearing ability disappear? Anyone can experience this condition, so it's best to recognize the signs of the eardrum rupture. By knowing the characteristics of a ruptured eardrum, you can go to the ENT doctor early and get the right treatment.
What is the eardrum
You could say without an eardrum, you won't be able to hear sounds from outside. Yes, the eardrum or tympanic membrane functions to pass on the vibrations of the sound so that it can be captured by the nerves and proceed to the brain.
Well, in fact when the eardrum breaks, the sound can no longer be captured and passed on to the nerve properly. So, your hearing ability will decrease even if the case is severe, you cannot hear the sound.
Then, what are the characteristics of a ruptured eardrum?
The characteristics of the eardrum rupture
Some people are not aware of the initial symptoms when the eardrum ruptures. Usually people start to see a doctor after a few days feeling uncomfortable ears.
One of the initial symptoms that you can detect is air out of the ear when exhaling. In addition, there are characteristics of other ruptured eardrums that you can recognize:
- Very sharp ear pain and sudden onset
- In the ear canal contains pus or blood
- Decrease or loss of hearing in one ear or in all affected parts
- Feels ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
- There is a spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Nausea or vomiting due to vertigo
- Dizzy
Treatment for a ruptured eardrum
Usually doctors will prescribe antibiotics in the form of ear drops to prevent ear infections or treat infections if they do. If a ruptured eardrum makes you sick, doctors recommend using pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Compress warm towels over the ears can also be done to relieve pain. In addition to administering the drug, in some severe cases the doctor also recommends that the patient perform surgery to attach tissue to other parts of the body.
This action is done to stimulate the eardrum tissue to grow and return to normal. Usually, medical treatment like this will be done if the ruptured eardrum is severe enough.
While in the process of healing, keep your ears dry. That means, you cannot swim or dive until the doctor states that your eardrum has healed.
You also have to use a shower cap or cotton coated with petroleum jelly on the outer ear when bathing so that the ears are completely dry.
