Commonly called the eardrum, the tympanic membrane is a thin layer between the outer and middle ear. It responds to the sound waves by vibrating. Since it plays a crucial role in your hearing ability, a perforation or puncture in your tympanic membrane can lead to temporary hearing loss.
You may need to see an ENT specialist in Navi Mumbai, as a perforated eardrum also makes you more vulnerable to ear infections. Understanding the types of tympanic membrane perforation can help you know the diagnosis and treatment options. Here’s a look.
Main Classifications
The severity of the tympanic membrane perforation depends on its size. Smaller holes tend to heal on their own. The hole can be a medium, large, or total perforation.
Another classification of the rupture is the location. It can be central, attic, or marginal. Eardrum perforation can result from trauma to the middle ear, which can happen from injury or loud noise, infection, and a post-surgical issue.
Common Types
Here are the most common types of tympanic ear perforations.
- Central: The central eardrum perforation typically occurs around the pars tensa and is most commonly caused by a respiratory infection or fluid accumulation in the middle ear. The puncture doesn’t affect the outer rim, making it less likely to cause complications. Symptoms mainly include moderate hearing loss with or without pain.
- Marginal: Marginal perforation occurs when the hole in your tympanic membrane extends to the edges. It’s comparatively more complicated than central perforation, as the affected area is not just the body of the eardrum but the edges as well. It occurs in people with a history of multiple ear infections, ear surgeries, and trauma.
- Attic Perforation: This type is more likely to cause cholesteatoma (a growth of skin in the perforated region) and hearing loss. Attic perforation occurs in the upper part of the eardrum, which is quite fragile. Surgery is often needed to repair the damage and prevent its recurrence.
- Traumatic: Inserting sharp objects into the ear or loud noises can cause traumatic perforation. It usually resolves on its own, given that the middle ear remains infection-free.
- Subtotal/Total: A subtotal eardrum perforation involves a significant part of the tympanic membrane, while total perforation is when the entire eardrum goes missing. This happens due to recurring ear infections or severe trauma. A surgical repair, known as tympanoplasty, is often necessary in this case.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of eardrum perforation can vary slightly based on the classification listed above, but most people experience a few common symptoms:
- Temporary hearing loss
- Pain in the ear
- Unusual discharge (indicates infection)
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
Eardrum perforation can be diagnosed with an otoscope, a tool with a light that’s inserted into the ear to get a clear view of the internal ear parts. Audiometry is a common hearing test that helps your ENT specialist determine the severity of the damage based on your hearing loss.
Treatment
If it’s a small hole due to a trauma, watchful waiting is recommended. Eardrum rupture surgery in Navi Mumbai is advised when the perforation is large, subtotal, or total. It’s also an effective choice if the perforation doesn’t heal on its own.
