A ruptured (perforated) eardrum is a tear or a hole in your eardrum (tympanic membrane), the thin membrane that separates your ear canal from your middle ear. This membrane vibrates when sound waves strike it, starting the process of converting sound waves into nerve impulses that travel to your brain. Damage to your eardrum interrupts the hearing process and may impair your hearing.

The eardrum also acts as a barrier to keep outside material, such as bacteria, from entering your middle ear. When your eardrum is ruptured, bacteria can more easily reach your middle ear and cause infection.

A variety of factors can cause a ruptured eardrum. These include an infection, injury and noise. Most ruptured eardrums heal within a few weeks without treatment. If the tear or hole in your eardrum doesn't heal by itself, you may need treatment.

Prevention

Follow these tips to avoid a ruptured eardrum:

• Get treatment for middle ear infections. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of middle ear infection and seek treatment accordingly. Control the infection before it worsens enough to rupture your eardrum.

• Protect your ears during flight. Prevent your ears from popping and your eardrums from rupturing while flying. Don't fly if you have a cold or an active allergy that causes you to be congested. Wear pressure-equalizing earplugs or chew gum during ascent and descent to keep your ears clear.

• Keep your ears free of foreign objects. Never attempt to dig out excess or hardened earwax with items such as a cotton swab, paper clip or hairpin. These items can easily tear or puncture your eardrum. Educate children of the damage that can be done by putting foreign objects in their ears.

• Guard against excessive noise. Protect your ears from unnecessary damage by wearing protective earplugs or earmuffs in your workplace or during recreational activities if loud continuous noise is present. Keep the volume down when listening to music or television.