Eardrum Repair Treatment

DIAGNOSIS

Your ENT specialist can determine if you’ve a ruptured eardrum, using a visual inspection or a lighted instrument such as an otoscope or a microscope. He/she may suggest some tests to determine the cause or symptoms in your ear or detect any hearing loss. Some of the tests are:

Lab tests:

If the specialist finds any discharge from your ear, he/she may prepare a lab test or culture to detect any bacterial infection of the middle ear.

Tuning & Fork evaluation:

Two pronged metal instruments that produce sounds when struck. These simple tests are carried out to detect any hearing loss. This test reveals whether there’s any damage to vibrating parts of the middle ear, or damage to sensors or nerves of the inner ear or damages to both.

Audiology exam: A series of tests performed to determine how well you respond to different volumes or sounds or pitches. These tests are performed in a soundproof booth.

In most cases, ruptured eardrums heal without any treatment within a few weeks. If your ENT specialist finds any infection, then antibiotic drops are recommended.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

If the eardrum doesn’t heal by itself, then, you would need surgery to close the tear or hole in the eardrum. This includes:

Eardrum Patch:

If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn’t heal by itself, then, your ENT specialist would seal it with a paper patch or other materials. He may apply chemicals to the edges of the ear for promoting healing of the eardrum. Next, a patch is applied over the hole or tear. This procedure is performed multiple times until the hole closes.

Surgery:

If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn’t heal by itself, thenSurgery is the last option. Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure which grafts a patch of tissue to close the hole in the eardrum.

This is an outpatient surgery. It means you can go home the same day or would require anesthesia for a longer stay at the hospital.

Self-care Options:

Your eardrum can be protected by:

• Keeping the ear dry
• Refrain from cleaning the ears
• Avoid blowing your nose

HEARING LOSS, EARLY SIGNS

Some early symptoms or signs you may feel are:

• Ear pain that subsides quickly
• Mucus like pus filled or bloody drainage from the ear
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Vertigo (spinning sensation)
• Nausea or vomiting due to vertigo

Hearing Loss can occur by:

Damage to ear:

Aging and loud noise can affect your ears. It causes wear and tear on hair or nerve cells of the ear (cochlea) which send signals to the brain. Damaged cells don’t send electrical signals to the brain.There would be difficulty in differentiating between loud noises and clear sounds.

Build up of wax:

Earwax can build up on time, blocking sound waves. Removal of ear wax restores the hearing ability.

Ear infection/unusual bone growth/ tumors:

It affects the outer or middle ear causing hearing loss.

Ruptured eardrum:

Ruptured eardrum results from a tear or hole in the thin tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear (eardrum).

RISK FACTORS

A few factors affecting hear loss:

• Aging
• Loud noise
• Heredity
• Noises on job
• Noises at Play
• Some medicines
• Some illnesses

PREPARING FOR SURGERY

Before the surgery begins, your ENT specialist will examine your middle ear and hearing ability. Some additional steps:

• Examine your head and neck
• Examine your middle ear and ear drum with lighted instruments or microscope
• Conducts test such as Audiometry

The above steps are used to determine whether you need to undergo Tympanoplasty for your eardrum repair.

RECOVERY

A ruptured eardrum heals by itself within a few weeks.If not, then, your ENT specialist would seal it with a paper patch or other materials. He may apply chemicals to the edges of the ear for promoting healing of the eardrum.

Next, a patch is applied over the hole or tear. This procedure is performed multiple times until the hole closes. In some cases antibiotic drops are recommended.

If the problem worsens, an eardrum surgery will be performed known as Tympanoplasty. It takes 10 days to 2 weeks to recover from the surgery. General instructions to keep your ear protected are as directed by your dentist/orthodontist for speedy recovery.

This is an outpatient surgery. It means you can go home the same day or would require anesthesia for a longer stay at the hospital.