Everything You Need To Know About A Perforated Eardrum

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What is a Perforated Eardrum?

A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear in the eardrum that may affect your hearing ability. The eardrum is also known as the tympanic membrane. It is a thin layer of tissue found in the middle ear that receives the vibrations of sound and helps transmit it to the auditory ossicles. When a hole occurs in the tympanic membrane or eardrum, that is called perforation. Patients suffering from perforated eardrum issues need immediate assistance. Because delaying the treatment of a ruptured eardrum can lead to partial hearing or complete loss of hearing.

In most cases, if the perforation is minor, it usually heals on its own or through prescribed medication like ear drops within a few weeks. Whereas, on the other hand, if the hole in the eardrum is major, it needs a doctor’s opinion and would not heal through medicines or any other oral treatments. Perforation in the eardrum can result in severe symptoms like earache, ear discharge, or impaired hearing ability. Therefore, the doctor may advise surgical intervention to repair the perforation in the eardrum. The surgical procedure is called tympanoplasty. It is an advanced and minimally invasive procedure that restores hearing ability and cures all the symptoms caused due to perforation in the eardrum.

Causes

• Bacterial infection in the middle ear

• Inserting foreign items in the ear

• Injury

• Sudden exposure to loud music

• Change in air pressure

• Contact sports

• Water diving

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Symptoms

• Partial hearing loss

• Intense earache

• Discharge from the ear

• Regular itchiness in the ear

• Fever

• Tinnitus

DIAGNOSIS

There are a few diagnostic tests an ENT expert will recommend, such as:

• Tympanometry– A device is used in the tympanometry test to measure the eardrum’s response in different air pressure. The doctor will note the measurement to detect the perforation in the eardrum.
• Audiology- The doctor will play various volumes and pitches to check the severity of the hearing ability.
• Ear discharge- A swab of an ear discharge will be taken for culture to identify infection in the middle ear.

• Tuning Fork- There are two-pronged metal instruments that are used to produce sound when struck together. The sound will help in evaluating the hearing quality of the patient.

Self Diagnosis

There are no confirmed methods to self-diagnose the perforation in the eardrum. The eardrum is a thin tissue layer that is present in the middle ear, and inserting any foreign object into the ear canal may worsen the condition. It is always advised to consult the ENT doctor for any disorder related to the ear. However, there are a few signs like nausea, spinning sensation, ear discharge, or change in hearing ability which may be caused due to tear in the eardrum.

Diagnosis by Doctor

An ENT specialist will conduct a thorough diagnosis of the ear to identify the extent of the perforation in the eardrum. The doctor will direct a physical examination to evaluate the condition while checking the ear canal with an otoscope, a device that is used to get a clear view of the eardrum. In addition, the doctor will check the temperature to detect any fever.  The ENT doctor may put slight pressure on the cheek around the affected ear to check the tenderness or facial pain in severe cases.

SEVERITY

Minor eardrum perforation

In most cases, the hole is minor in the tympanic membrane. If the perforation is minor, it usually heals on its own. The doctor may prescribe a few medications and ear drops for a week or two to support the healing process. The symptoms may not be significant, but the patient could experience earache and fever because of the perforation in the eardrum.

Major eardrum perforation

When the perforation is significant, it does not heal on its own or through prescribed medication. Major perforation could result in impaired hearing and can cause painful symptoms like bleeding from the ear, yellow discharge from the ear, striking earache, etc. The doctor usually advises surgical intervention to restore the tympanic membrane to improve the hearing ability and to get rid of all the symptoms.

RISKS & COMPLICATIONS

Risk Factors

Various risk factors can cause a hole in the eardrum:

• Scuba diving without gears can put pressure on the ear.
• Change in air pressure while traveling through the airplane.
• Activities involving rapid pressure changes can cause perforation in the eardrum.
• Middle ear infections
• Listening to loud noises or music regularly
• Inserting foreign objects into the ear.

If left untreated

The ear is one of the most sensitive parts of the body that helps improve life’s productivity. It is always better to consult the ENT doctor for a diagnosis to get the best-suited advice. Leaving perforation in the eardrum untreated can cause serious complications such as:

• Loss of hearing
• Middle ear infection
• Cholesteatoma
• Bleeding from ear
• Yellow discharge from the ear.

Prevention

• Avoid listening to loud music
• Use a piece of cloth for warm compresses to ease the pain in the ear
• Wear a shower cap while bathing to keep water from entering the ear
• Don’t blow your nose, as it can affect your middle ear severely
• Postpone your traveling plans by airplane to avoid air pressure
• Use earplugs to avoid any further harm to the eardrum

When to consult a doctor ?

Consult an ENT doctor on an immediate basis if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms. The ear is a sensitive part of the body, and delaying the treatment can affect your life’s productivity.  The following could be the significant signs of perforation in the eardrum:

• Intense earache which may subside quickly
• Mucus like drainage coming out from the ear
• Bleeding from the ear
• If you are feeling any change in your hearing ability

Questions to ask your doctor

INSURANCE COVERAGE

Every individual’s medical insurance policy is different. A perforation or hole in the eardrum can result in partial or complete loss of hearing. Tympanoplasty is considered a medical treatment that is necessary to improve the hearing ability and restore the ear’s normal functioning. A few of the insurance providers that may cover treatment:

• Star Health Insurance
• New Inia Health Insurance
• Bajaj Allianz
• Religare
• ICICI Lombard

Why choose Pristyn Care ?

Why choose Pristyn Care for Tympanoplasty Treatment 

Pristyn Care has ENT-specialized centers across the country. We are trying our best to make modern treatments accessible to each patient with a minimal cost range. Pristyn Care believes in almost minimal pain and minimally invasive surgeries, has fewer chances of infection with a faster recovery duration. We provide additional benefits to each patient who comes to Pristyn Care for a smoother treatment journey:

• Highly Experienced Surgeons- All ENT surgeons at Pristyn Care are board-certified and upskilled in performing the advanced treatment. They offer comprehensive treatment and try their best to discuss all the necessary details about the tympanoplasty procedure to make you well informed about your treatment for a hole in the eardrum.
• Medical Insurance Approval– An in-house team of insurance experts is available at Pristyn Care to assist patients during the paperwork of medical insurance claims. Each patient has a different insurance policy from the other. Our experts understand it and provide the best assistance to get the maximum benefits from your policy.
• Discounted Diagnostic Tests– We understand medical finances could be burdening. To ease the treatment finance, we offer a 30% discount on diagnostic tests.
• Different Payment Options– There are flexible payment options at Pristyn Care for tympanoplasty treatment. You can either choose to pay through cash or from any card. We also provide 0 cost EMI to make the treatment payment feasible for each patient.
• Free Cab Service- Free transportation is also provided to each patient for pick-up from their home and to drop-off back to their doorsteps on the day of tympanoplasty surgery.
• Recovery Follow up Consultation- Recovery is an essential part of the treatment. Therefore, we provide Recovery Follow up consultation with a diet chart that a nutritionist makes to patients who have undergone tympanoplasty surgery for smoother and faster recovery.

Book An Appointment With The Best ENT Doctors For Tympanoplasty

Pristyn Care has an in-house team of ENT experts that are well trained in executing minimally invasive surgeries while providing the best consultation. In addition, our dedicated team offers extreme attention to each patient during their treatment to make their treatment journey smoother. The three easy ways to book an appointment for a perforated eardrum treatment at Pristyn Care:

• Talk to our medical coordinator by giving us a call on the mentioned number above the page to get the details about the tympanoplasty treatment.
• Fill out the form with the required information. Our medical coordinator will call you at the earliest for assistance and provide all the necessary details about a hole in the eardrum.
• There is a mobile application as well through which patients can book online consultations to speak to our highly experienced ENT doctors without stepping out of the house.

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