When your perforated eardrum, a tear or hole in the thin tissue separating your ear canal from your middle ear. Also known as a ruptured eardrum, it can happen fast—from a loud bang, an ear infection, or even a sharp object like a cotton swab. This isn’t just pain—it can mess with your hearing, balance, and leave you open to serious infections.
A ear infection, a buildup of fluid and bacteria behind the eardrum is the most common cause. Kids get it often, but adults aren’t safe either. Pressure from that swelling can pop the eardrum like a balloon. Trauma matters too—skydiving, diving deep, or getting slapped hard across the ear can do it. Even a sudden explosion or loud concert can rupture it. You’ll know it’s happened if you feel a sharp pain that suddenly stops, followed by ringing, dizziness, or fluid draining from the ear.
Most perforated eardrums, heal on their own within a few weeks. No surgery needed. Your body’s pretty good at fixing itself—if you give it space. Keep the ear dry. No swimming. No blowing your nose hard. Avoid putting anything in your ear—not even ear drops unless a doctor says so. If it’s infected, antibiotics like amoxicillin or clindamycin might be prescribed, but they don’t fix the hole—they just stop the infection from making it worse.
Some cases need help. If the tear doesn’t close after 2 months, or if you keep getting infections, you might need a patch or a minor surgery called a tympanoplasty. But that’s rare. Most people recover fully with just time and care. Hearing loss from a perforated eardrum is usually temporary. Once the hole closes, your hearing comes back. But if you ignore it, you risk permanent damage, chronic infections, or even damage to the tiny bones inside your ear.
You don’t need to panic if you suspect a ruptured eardrum. But you do need to act smart. See a doctor if you have sudden ear pain that stops, fluid draining, hearing loss, or dizziness. Don’t wait for it to get worse. And don’t try home fixes like heating oil or inserting things into your ear—that’s how you make it worse.
Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how antibiotics like roxithromycin or clindamycin are used in ear infections, what to do when hearing doesn’t bounce back, and how to protect your ears after trauma. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the mistakes most people make.
Written by Mark O'Neill
A perforated eardrum can heal on its own in weeks, but only if you protect it properly. Learn the timeline, what to avoid, and when to see a doctor to prevent permanent damage.