A ruptured eardrum, also known as a tympanic membrane perforation, is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear. It can result in hearing loss and make the middle ear vulnerable to infections. A ruptured eardrum can be caused by various factors, including:

• Ear infections, which may cause pus or fluid to build up behind the eardrum. As the pressure increases, the eardrum may break open.
• Loud sounds or blasts, such as from an explosion or gunshot, which can rarely cause a tear in the eardrum.
• Foreign objects in the ear, such as cotton swabs or hairpins, which can puncture or tear the eardrum.
• Injury to the ear, such as from a powerful slap or explosion.
• Rapid changes in ear pressure, which may occur when flying, scuba diving, or driving in the mountains.
• Middle ear cysts, which can form when skin cells and other debris pass into the middle ear through a ruptured eardrum.

Signs and symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include ear pain that may subside quickly, mucus-like, pus-filled, or bloody drainage from the ear, hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), spinning sensation (vertigo), nausea or vomiting that can result from vertigo, and itching in the ear. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to contact a medical professional. Most ruptured eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks, but sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal[[4]](https://www.mayoclinic.org/disease...