A perforated eardrum is a tear or hole in the ear's tympanic membrane (the eardrum). This can happen from an ear infection or from an injury. Usually, the hole closes on its own in a few weeks and hearing returns to normal. Take care of the ear and go to all follow-up visits to make sure the eardrum heals well.

• Keeping a perforated eardrum dry is the best way to help it heal. To avoid getting water in the ear:
  • Gently place a waterproof earplug or cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly into the ear before your child showers or bathes.
  • Don't allow your child to go swimming or jump or dive into water.
• Give your child all prescribed medicines exactly as directed.
• For pain, ask your health care provider if you can give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often. 
• Your child should avoid forceful nose blowing, which can irritate the eardrum.
• Don't use over-the-counter ear drops (the kind you can buy without a prescription) in your child's ear unless your health care provider tells you to do so.
• Don't clean the inside of your child's ear. Never stick cotton swabs or other objects in the ear.
• Go to all follow-up visits with your health care provider.
• If the eardrum does not heal within 2–3 weeks or the symptoms get worse, your health care provider might want your child to see an otolaryngologist (ear-nose-throat doctor, often called an ENT).

Your child has:

• Hearing loss that gets worse
• Pain that gets worse
• Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
• Fever
• Bleeding from the ear
• New drainage from the ear or drainage that doesn't stop after 48–72 hours

How long does it take for a perforated eardrum to heal? In most cases, the hole closes on its own and hearing returns to normal within several months. Sometimes, surgery is needed to repair a hole that hasn't healed.

How does a perforated eardrum affect hearing? The eardrum is a thin piece of skin-like tissue that's stretched tight — like a drum — across the opening between the ear canal and the middle ear. When sound enters the ear, it vibrates the eardrum. Then, in the middle and inner ear, the vibrations change to signals that the brain senses as sounds. A ruptured eardrum can't vibrate as well as it should. This can cause a hearing problem, which often is temporary.