Can a ruptured eardrum heal on its own or not?

The eardrum is the most important part of the sense of hearing that allows you to receive sounds from outside. If your eardrum is ruptured or damaged, you will certainly experience hearing loss. A ruptured eardrum can generally be treated with regular antibiotics. However, some people claim that their ears improve on their own even though they have not had time to treat it. So, is it true that a ruptured eardrum can heal on its own? Find out the answer through the following reviews.

Is it possible for a ruptured eardrum to heal on its own?

A ruptured eardrum in medical terms is called a tympanic perforation. This condition occurs when the tympanic membrane is torn to a hole. The tympanic membrane itself is a thin tissue that divides the middle ear and outer ear canal.

There are many things that can cause your eardrum to burst. This can happen when you have a middle ear infection (otitis media) or hear loud noises, whether they are thunder, explosions, or gunshots.

The good news, a ruptured eardrum can heal on its own without any treatment, you know. Most cases of eardrum rupture are only temporary because the hole in the eardrum has the ability to close on its own. As a result, your hearing function can gradually normalize and allow you to hear clearly again.

Usually, a ruptured eardrum can heal on its own within the next few weeks to three months. However, this depends on the cause of the ruptured eardrum that you are experiencing.

If it is caused by an ear infection, your eardrum will usually get better as soon as the infection is treated. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, either oral medication or ear drops, to treat your ear infection. The sooner the ear infection is treated, the sooner your eardrum will return to normal function.

How do you make the eardrum heal quickly?

Although a ruptured eardrum can heal on its own, this doesn't mean you just sit back and wait until your eardrum is completely healed, you know. The reason is, you need to make sure the condition of your ears remains dry to accelerate healing.

This means that you are not encouraged to swim or dive until your eardrum has completely healed. Likewise, when bathing, you should use a head covering to prevent water from getting into the ears. You can also cover the ear holes with cotton wool coated with petroleum jelly to prevent water from entering the ear.

For the time being, avoid traveling by plane to prevent high pressure in the ears (barotrauma). If there are certain things that require you to get on a plane, use ear plugs (earplug) or chewing gum to balance the pressure in the inner and outer ear. That way, your eardrum problem can be treated properly and prevent it from recurring.

A ruptured eardrum won't heal, what should you do?

If you still experience a disturbing hearing loss, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will usually provide:

1. Pain relievers

When a ruptured eardrum causes you pain, the doctor will prescribe a pain reliever medication to be consumed regularly. This drug serves to protect your ear from continuing infection. You will usually be given paracetamol or ibuprofen, according to your health condition.

2. Patch

If your eardrum problem does not go away even after taking medication, you will usually be referred to an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor. The doctor will probably put down patch to patch the hole in your eardrum.

Patchthis serves to encourage the growth of the eardrum tissue and cover the existing hole. That way, your hearing problems will gradually decrease and return to normal.

3. Operation tympanoplasty

Tympanoplasty surgery is a surgical procedure that closes the opening in the tympanic membrane or eardrum. This method is the last resort taken after all unsuccessful attempts to treat a ruptured eardrum.

To close the hole in the eardrum, the doctor will usually take your own body tissue from a specific body part. Because it is a minor type of surgery, you don't need to be hospitalized, or you can go home immediately after the operation is complete while waiting for the recovery period.