Description

The eardrum is a thin, sensitive membrane that receives sound waves from the outside world and transfers them through the bones of the middle ear. If something tears the smooth, sound-receiving Surface of the eardrum, the result can be a particularly painful and serious condition. Such trauma can also permanently damage your hearing.

Ruptured eardrums actually occur more frequently than you might think. The pressure caused by a severe ear infection can tear the eardrum; so can everyday activities, such as cleaning your ears too vigorously with a cotton swab. In fact, doctors speculate that cotton swabs are a more common cause of eardrum tears than ear infections. Other traumatic events, such as a strong slap on the ear, a nearby explosion, or flying with an ear infection or cold can produce a change of air pressure in the ear that are violent enough to perforate the eardrum.

Signs and Symptoms

• Earache
• Partial hearing loss
• Bleeding or discharge from the ear

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you have any symptoms of a perforated eardrum, visit your doctor as soon as possible. Although small fissures can usually heal by themselves, larger tears often cannot. If left untreated, these wounds can, in the long-term, result in hearing loss and a higher susceptibility to middle ear infections.

To determine the condition of your eardrum, your physician examines your ear canal with an otoscope, an instrument containing a light and a magnifying lens. If the tear is small, usually your ear is allowed to heal by itself. Small tears usually take two or three months to heal, during which time you must keep your ear dry. If the tear is large, surgery may be required. If there is a threat of infection, your physician may prescribe antibiotics.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture Acupuncture can be used to help internal inflammation and swelling after the perforation or rupture has occurred.

Chinese Herbal Therapy Kidney tonics may help the ear heal as best it can.

Tagged under:bones of the middle ear chinese herbal therapy cleaning your ears cotton swabs ear canal ear infection eardrum eardrums Herbal Medicines middle ear infections

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Filed under: Herbal Medicines