A perforated eardrum is a tear or hole in the ear's tympanic membrane (the eardrum). Usually, the hole will close on its own in a few weeks and hearing returns to normal. Sometimes, it can take months or longer for the eardrum to heal. If health care providers need to repair a hole that hasn't healed, they might use a small patch or do surgery.

• Keeping a perforated eardrum dry is the best way to help it heal. To avoid getting water in the ear, your child should:
  • Gently place a waterproof earplug or cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly into the ear before showering or bathing
  • Not go swimming or jump or dive into water
• Give your child all prescribed medicines exactly as directed.
• Don't use over-the-counter ear drops in your child's ear unless your health care provider tells you to do so.
• Do not 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.

Your child has:

• new drainage from the ear
• ear pain
• increased hearing loss
• bleeding from the ear

Your child:

• has severe pain
• has dizziness and vomiting
• cannot hear at all from the affected ear

What causes a perforated eardrum? A perforated eardrum can be caused by an injury, infection, or ear tubes that fall out before the eardrum has fully healed. Using cotton swabs to clean the ear, very loud noises (like an explosion), or a sudden change in pressure (such as with scuba diving) can also cause an eardrum to tear.