Perforated eardrum - Symptoms of a perforated eardrum
- Introduction
- Symptoms of a perforated eardrum
- Causes of a perforated eardrum
- Treating a perforated eardrum
- Complications of surgery for perforated eardrum
- Diagnosis
If you have a perforated eardrum, your hearing may be affected.
The extent of any hearing loss will depend on the size of the hole in your eardrum. A small puncture may only cause a slight loss of hearing, whereas a large puncture is likely to cause greater hearing loss.
The hearing loss is only temporary and your hearing will return once your eardrum has healed.
As well as hearing loss, a perforated eardrum may cause the following symptoms:
Risk of infection
The eardrum forms a protective barrier that prevents germs and bacteria from entering your middle ear. If you have a perforated eardrum, your risk of developing an ear infection is therefore increased.
If you have an infection of the middle ear, your symptoms may include:
- severe earache caused by the pressure of the mucus on the eardrum
- a high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above
- slight hearing loss
Spotting an ear infection in children
Children who have an ear infection may also develop flu-like symptoms, such as vomiting and a lack of energy. Babies with ear infections will be hot and irritable.
Other signs of an ear infection in children and babies are:
- pulling, tugging or rubbing their ear
- a high temperature (38ºC or above)
- irritability
- poor feeding
- restlessness at night
- coughing
- runny nose
- not responding to quiet sounds
- loss of balance
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