Evans AK, et al. Evaluation and management of middle ear trauma. Accessed Sept. Lalwani AK. Temporal bone trauma. New York, N. Vernick DM. Ear barotrauma. Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane. Merck Manual Professional Version. Elsevier Point of Care. Ear and sinus barotrauma. Accessed June 6, Sagiv D, et al. Traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane: A review of 80 cases. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. Pediatric hearing loss. Neff BA expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
July 11, Related Ruptured eardrum Tympanoplasty. These vibrations then move tiny bones which relay the sound signal to the inner ear.
There, the inner ear transfers this message to the brain. These inner ear bones are called the malleus also called the hammer , incus or anvil and stapes or stirrup. There are several things that can cause your eardrum to rupture. The medical term for a ruptured eardrum is a tympanic membrane perforation.
The most common causes include:. Experts recommend using hearing protection when you are near any noise at or above 80 decibels dB. For comparison, the quietest noise that can be heard by someone with healthy hearing is 0 dB. A gunshot registers around to dB. During an ear infection, fluid becomes trapped in your middle ear. As a result, the pressure from this built-up fluid can rupture the eardrum.
The Eustachian tube connects your middle ear to the back of the nose, and it plays an important role in equalizing air pressure, ensuring that the pressure outside your ear is the same as the pressure inside.
Barotrauma occurs when the ear is not able to equalize this pressure, which can rupture the eardrum. However, barotrauma can also be caused by scuba diving or a severe blow to the ear. Some of these are to check the eardrum for a rupture, others help doctors learn more about hearing loss. The doctor may want you to get an audiology exam to measure how well you hear at different pitches and volumes. If there is fluid coming from the ear, a sample of the fluid might be tested in a lab.
This can help doctors decide which antibiotic is best for treating the infection. Usually, a perforated eardrum will heal on its own within a few weeks without any treatment. While the eardrum is healing, over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease any pain. Ask your health care professional or a parent which pain relievers are best for you. To help prevent infections or treat any existing infections , a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Antibiotics are usually a pill that you'll swallow, but sometimes can be ear drops. If your eardrum doesn't heal on its own, an ear-nose-throat ENT specialist may recommend an eardrum patch. During this procedure, a doctor puts a paper patch over the hole. Doctors may need to do this procedure a number of times until the eardrum is fully healed. If all other treatments fail, the ENT specialist might have to do a kind of surgery known as a tympanoplasty.
The surgeon will attach a small patch of your own tissue to close the tear on your eardrum. Sometimes you can't prevent a perforated eardrum like when an eardrum ruptures because of infection, for example. Perforated Eardrum. Note: All information is for educational purposes only.
0コメント