Ruptured or perforated eardrum

Alternative names:

eardrum, perforated; eardrum, punctured; eardrum, ruptured; tympanic membrane perforation

Symptoms:

• earache or ear discomfort
  • may be severe and increasing
  • a sudden decrease in ear pain may occur followed by ear drainage

• drainage from the ear (may be clear, pus, or bloody)
• hearing loss in the affected ear (may not be complete loss of hearing)
• ear noise/buzzing

Signs and tests:

An inspection of the ear with an otoscope shows opening in the tympanic membrane and may show the bones of the middle ear. Sometimes visualization of the tympanic membrane is difficult because of drainage from the ear (pus).

Audiology/audiometry testing may show the extent of hearing loss.