How to Heal a Ruptured Eardrum

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Board certified otolaryngologist Monica Kieu, DO, FACS, explains the causes, symptoms, and treatments for a ruptured eardrum

Co-authored by Monica Kieu, DO, FACS and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: August 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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The eardrum is fairly fragile, and trauma to the ear can cause the eardrum to tear, which is known as a ruptured or perforated eardrum. They're more common in children who develop middle ear infections, though they have multiple causes and can happen at any age. Most ruptured eardrums heal on their own without medical intervention, but it's important to see your doctor to make sure there's not a possibility of hearing loss or infection. In the meantime, we interviewed board certified otolaryngologists to learn how to seek treatment and protect your eardrum from further damage at home.

How to Treat a Ruptured Eardrum

Board certified otolaryngologist Monica Kieu, DO, FACS, says to see your primary care doctor or an ENT surgeon if you have a ruptured eardrum. While most ruptures heal on their own within a few weeks, a medical provider needs to monitor your progress. While it heals, take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.

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   Recognize the signs of a ruptured eardrum. Perforated eardrums can share symptoms with middle ear infections or other ear damage, so it can be hard to tell them apart. If your eardrum ruptures, you may experience:

   • Ear pain (that may go away fast). Dr. Kieu notes that many patients notice sudden ear pain that lessens afterward.
   • Mucus, pus-filled liquids, or bloody liquids coming out of the ear, says Dr. Kieu.
   • Hearing loss or muffled hearing, says Dr. Kieu.
   • Ringing or buzzing in the ear, notes Dr. Kieu.
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Dizziness, wobbliness, or vertigo. This can include a room spinning sensation, explains Dr. Kieu.
   • Seek emergency care if you experience excessive bleeding or total hearing loss, are in extreme pain, are abnormally dizzy, or have something stuck in your ear.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Monica Kieu, DO, FACS, is a board certified otolaryngologist and specialist in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in Los Angeles, CA. She was named one of LA’s Top Docs by Los Angeles Magazine.

   Payam Daneshrad, MD, is a board certified otolaryngologist with over 19 years of experience. He’s the owner of Daneshrad Clinic in Los Angeles, CA.
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   Know when a ruptured eardrum is more likely. Injury or damage to the eardrum is typically caused by a sudden change in pressure, which can result from several different circumstances. The eardrum is more likely to be damaged or torn due to:

   • Fluid from a middle ear infection breaking the eardrum (this is more common in children, but can happen at any age)
   • Small and/or blunt objects being inserted into the ear. This can include cotton swabs, says Dr. Kieu.
   • Rapid shifts in air pressure (for example, being on a plane)
   • Water pressure from diving, says Dr. Kieu.
   • Exposure to extremely loud sound blasts, says Dr. Kieu. This can be explosions or concerts.
   • Injury to the ear, head, or neck. This can include a hard slap to the ear, notes Dr. Kieu.
   • Infection, Dr. Kieu says.
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   See your doctor as soon as you can. “The first and most important step is to see an ENT surgeon or your primary care doctor,” says Dr. Kieu. Because a ruptured eardrum can cause permanent hearing loss in serious cases, it's vital to see your doctor if you suspect any kind of injury or damage to your ear. Tell your doctor:

   • The symptoms you're experiencing
   • What happened leading up to the symptoms
   • If you've had problems with your ears in the past, like recurring ear infections
   • Whether you were sick
   • If anything has been in your ear
   • Anything you did to treat it
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   Allow your doctor to examine your ear. Your doctor might check your ear themselves, or they may refer you to a specialist. They will use a device called an otoscope to look in the ear and confirm the diagnosis of an eardrum rupture (tympanic membrane perforation), Dr. Kieu explains. They will look for any damage, and then likely test your hearing to see if it's intact.

   • If necessary, your doctor may also check how your ear reacts to shifts in air pressure and check any drainage for signs of infection.
   • Your doctor might have to clear out your ears to examine them, depending on whether there's drainage.
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   Recognize that most times, no intervention is needed. Most eardrum ruptures heal on their own within a few weeks to months, says Dr. Kieu. You may be prescribed antibiotics if you are diagnosed with an infection, she adds. However, you likely won't need any interventions beyond protecting your ear as it heals.

   • While eardrum ruptures typically heal on their own, Dr. Kieu says it’s still important to see a medical provider so they can monitor your progress and healing.
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   Get surgical intervention in serious cases. Some ruptures can be serious or slow to heal and require medical intervention to heal properly. If your doctor determines your eardrum is severely damaged or is recovering too slowly, they may literally patch up your ear or have you undergo surgery.

   • An otolaryngologist may perform a paper patch procedure to encourage the perforation to close, Dr. Kieu explains. This can sometimes be done in the doctor's office and doesn't require anesthesia, though it might take several patches to fully repair the damage.
   • If the perforation is very large or the hole doesn’t heal on its own, you may need to get surgery (tympanoplasty), Dr. Kieu says. If surgery is required, it will be performed while you're under anesthesia. Most people can leave the hospital the same day.
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   Stay home if needed. A ruptured eardrum alone typically won't prevent you from going to school or work, but if you have a fever, are in excessive pain, work in a high-intensity field, or are regularly exposed to loud noise, your doctor will likely recommend you stay home until you've recovered. Ask them whether or not it's best to stay home.

   • If you had to have surgery on your ear, ask your doctor when it's safe to return to school or work.
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   Take any medication your doctor has prescribed. Perforated eardrums don't usually need medicinal treatment. However, if your ear shows any signs of infection, your doctor might prescribe you antibiotics to treat it. You'll likely be given either oral medication or antibiotic eardrops, though in some cases you might take both.

   • Be sure to take all the antibiotics as prescribed. Stopping the medication too early can cause an infection to come back.
   • Only use eardrops if your doctor prescribes them, as fluid in the ear can slow down the healing process.
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   Use heat to reduce pain. Warmth can help relieve the earache that can come with a ruptured eardrum. You can try holding a warm face cloth or a heating pad set on low against your ear.

   • Make sure the cloth or pad is warm, not hot. You don't want to burn yourself.
   • Avoid sleeping with your ear or face up against an electric heating pad, as this can result in burns.
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   Take over-the-counter pain relievers if needed, says Dr. Kieu. If heat isn't enough to soothe your ear, try taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (like Tylenol) to reduce the pain. If you're unable to take NSAIDs, ask your doctor for recommendations.

   • Only take one type of pain reliever at once. Don't combine them if your doctor hasn't recommended it.
   • Don't take more than the maximum recommended amount. If you have taken the maximum amount and are still in pain, see your doctor.
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   Avoid putting pressure on an infected ear. An infection in your ear can hurt and cause pressure when you lie down, which isn't good for a ruptured eardrum. When you go to sleep, lie in a way that doesn't put your infected ear directly against the pillow. For example, if your right ear is infected, sleep on your left side.

   • Some back sleepers recommend using extra pillows to raise the height of your infected ear. While there isn't clear evidence to back this up, it doesn't hurt to try it.
   • When you sneeze, Dr. Kieu recommends sneezing with your mouth open to help reduce pressure through the ears.
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   Protect your ears from water. Keep your ears dry and avoid fully submerging them, says Dr. Kieu. If water gets through the tear in the eardrum, you can develop an ear infection and slow the healing process. Take precautions to keep your ears dry and free of water.

   • Before you bathe, apply petroleum jelly to a cotton ball and put it in your ear to block water.
   • If possible, take baths rather than showers—the water is less likely to accidentally trickle into your ears.
   • Be gentle when washing your hair so nothing enters your ear.
   • Don't go swimming until your doctor says it's okay. Also avoid scuba diving, Dr. Kieu says.
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   Keep things out of your ears, says Dr. Kieu. This includes ear drops (unless you’re prescribed them), she adds. Anything placed in your ears—like cotton swabs—can introduce bacteria into the wound or worsen the tear. Avoid inserting anything into your ears, and try not to poke or prod at your ear, even if it's itchy or painful.

   • According to board-certified otolaryngologist Payam Daneshrad, MD, avoiding anything in the ear canal is the best way to avoid an ear infection of the canal.
   • Over-the-ear headphones are technically safe. However, exposing your ears to loud noise can cause pain and permanent hearing damage. Skip the headphones where possible, and if they're truly necessary, keep the volume low.
   • Do not attempt to clean your ears. If they feel plugged or are draining excessively, contact your doctor.
   

   Michael D. Seidman, Otolaryngologist

   Let a ruptured eardrum mend gently. Keep the ear dry and untouched to prevent aggravating the injury. In many cases, the body alone can heal if given proper time and conditions. However, some ruptures need medical care to avoid complications. Above all, be proactive in safeguarding your ears from hazardous noise and pressure shifts—an ounce of prevention outweighs the cure. Protect your hearing, and it will protect you.
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   Try to steer clear of blowing your nose. Avoid blowing your nose forcefully, agrees Dr. Kieu. Blowing your nose puts pressure on your ears and can further injure the internal workings of your ear. While gently blowing your nose is less dangerous than using excessive strength, it's best avoided when possible.
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   Call your doctor if there's no improvement or the problem worsens. Perforated eardrums generally take up to 2 months to heal. However, if your eardrum is healing extremely slowly or is showing signs of worsening, medical care is needed. Contact your doctor if:

   • You notice signs of infection, like fever, says Dr. Kieu. This can also include warmth, redness, pus, and drainage
   • You notice drainage, Dr. Kieu notes.
   • You feel a lot of pain, says Dr. Kieu.
   • You experience lots of dizziness
   • Your hearing gets worse, says Dr. Kieu. Or, it isn't improving or otherwise changes
   • You're still experiencing no signs of improvement after several weeks, notes Dr. Kieu.
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• Younger children are more likely to get ear infections, so they're more at risk for a ruptured eardrum. However, adults can have them too.
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• There's no way to guarantee that a middle ear infection won't break the eardrum. However, treating an infection early can reduce the risk of severe infections and perforation.
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• If your sinuses or ears are congested for any reason, try to avoid anything that requires changes in altitude, like flying or driving up into the mountains. The change in air pressure can put your ears at risk. If you have to fly, yawn during takeoff, or use gum or pressure-equalizing earplugs.
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