![]() With this natural barrier gone, bugs in the water can wash through the perforation and cause infections during swimming or showering/bathing. These can occur because the ear drum acts as a natural barrier that prevents bacteria and fungi in the outer ear (where they are common) from entering the middle ear. ![]() Of those that do not heal, recurrent ear infections, hearing loss and cholesteatoma can be a problem. Traumatic perforations and those caused as a result of a middle ear infection typically heal within 2 to 4 weeks. Many ear drum perforations will heal spontaneously without further problems. What kind of problems can a perforated ear drum cause? Read more about this complication of ventilation tubes here. The most common surgical cause of an ear drum perforation is ventilation tube (grommet or T-tube) insertion. ![]() Most of these heal spontaneously but some can persist and cause chronic problems such as ear drainage and hearing loss (known as chronic otitis media). Middle ear infections can also cause the ear drum to perforate. There are different types of trauma that can cause the ear drum to perforate:ĭirect trauma – such as from cotton bud or Q-tip used to clean wax from the ear canal, or from head trauma such as during a road traffic accident.Īcoustic trauma – due to exposure to very loud noise at close range such as from a bomb blast, a loud speaker or an open slap to the ear.īarotrauma – due to sudden changes in pressure, especially during scuba diving or sky-diving. Most perforations of the ear drum are caused by either trauma, infection or as a result of ear surgery.
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