An injury to your ear can be painful and may affect your hearing. Some injuries only involve the outer ear, while others damage the ear canal, which is the passage leading from the outside of your ear to your eardrum.
Knowing what to do straight away can help protect your ear while you arrange medical advice.
What can cause an ear injury?
Ear injuries can happen in several ways. Common causes include:
- Putting a cotton bud or another object into your ear
- Being hit on the side of your head or ear
- Exposure to an explosion or another very loud noise
- A sudden change in air pressure while flying or diving
- Cuts, burns or bites affecting the outer ear
- An object becoming stuck inside the ear canal
In some cases, a middle ear infection can cause fluid to build up behind the eardrum. The resulting pressure may cause it to tear.
What is a burst eardrum?
Your eardrum is a thin layer of tissue separating your ear canal from your middle ear, which is the air-filled space behind the eardrum. It vibrates when sound reaches it, helping sound travel further into your ear.
A burst eardrum, also called a perforated eardrum, is a hole or tear in your eardrum. Most burst eardrums heal by themselves within two months, although you should still seek advice if you experience pain, discharge or a change in your hearing.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of a burst eardrum often begin suddenly. You may notice:
- Pain inside your ear
- Muffled or reduced hearing
- Blood, clear fluid or pus coming from your ear
- Ringing or buzzing sounds, known as tinnitus
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Itching inside the ear
Ear pain can sometimes ease quickly after an eardrum bursts. However, this doesn’t always mean your ear has healed, so it’s important to get advice if you notice any other symptoms.
What should you do straight away?
If you think you’ve injured your ear:
- Don’t put cotton buds, fingers or other objects inside it
- Don’t use eardrops unless a doctor has recommended them
- Keep the ear dry and avoid swimming
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain if these medicines are suitable for you
- Avoid blowing your nose forcefully if you may have damaged your eardrum
When washing your hair, you can place a large piece of cotton wool coated with petroleum jelly at the entrance to the ear. Don’t push it into the ear canal. If the outer ear is bleeding, gently hold a clean dressing against the injury without pressing anything into the canal.
If an object is stuck in your ear, don’t try to pull it out yourself. Attempting to remove it could push it deeper or cause further damage.
When should you get urgent help?
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if:
- Your hearing suddenly changes or disappears
- Your hearing has worsened over several days
- You have hearing loss with pain or fluid coming from your ear
- You feel very dizzy or are being sick
- There’s swelling around your ear
- You feel generally unwell after the injury
How are ear injuries and burst eardrums assessed?
Your doctor will ask how the injury happened and examine your ear. They may use an otoscope, a small instrument with a light and magnifying lens, to look at the ear canal and eardrum. They’ll also check the outer ear for cuts or swelling.
You may also have a hearing test to check if the injury has affected how well you hear. An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist can assess more complicated injuries or symptoms that aren’t improving.
How are ear injuries or burst eardrums treated?
Treatment will depend on which part of your ear has been injured and how serious the damage is. Minor cuts to the outer ear may only need cleaning and dressing, while a healthcare professional should safely remove an object stuck in the ear.
Many burst eardrums close naturally, so treatment may involve keeping the ear dry and monitoring how it heals. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if there’s an infection or a risk that one could develop.
If the hole doesn’t close by itself, you may need a myringoplasty, which is an operation to repair the eardrum using a small piece of tissue. Your specialist will explain the operation and discuss its suitability with you.
Get help with an ear injury or burst eardrum
Most minor ear injuries heal well, but ongoing hearing loss, discharge or discomfort needs checking. Mr Wale Olarinde can examine your ear, assess your hearing and recommend suitable treatment.
If you’re concerned about an ear injury or burst eardrum, book a consultation with Mr Wale Olarinde.