A ruptured eardrum often heals within a few weeks without any special treatment required. Sometimes, however, patients may need a minor procedure to promote healing of a ruptured eardrum, and in the most serious cases may require surgery to repair the ruptured eardrum.

What causes an eardrum to rupture? A common cause — especially during summer months when individuals may be on vacation — is called barotraumas. Barotrauma refers to stress exerted on the eardrum when air pressure in the middle ear and in the environment are out of balance. If the pressure is severe and is unable to be equalized, the eardrum can rupture. It’s frequently caused by air pressure changes associated with air travel. That’s why chewing gum and purposely clearing out your ears through such techniques as holding your nose closed with your fingers and then blowing out air can help to equalize the pressure.

Sports such as scuba diving or ones that can lead to a direct blow to the ear can also lead to a ruptured ear. An automobile accident that results in an air bag becoming activated is another cause for a ruptured ear drum.

Symptoms may include:

• Sharp, stabbing ear pain
• Clear, pus-filled or bloody drainage from your ear
• A sensation of ìstuffinessî or having clogged hearing
• Ringing in your ear
• Hearing loss
• Ringing in your ear (tinnitus)
• Vertigo (spnning or dizzy sensation)

If you suspect you have a ruptured eardrum or have pain in your ears, schedule an appointment with your doctor without delay for a complete evaluation. You want to do all you can to protect your overall hearing health.

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Chronic ear infections can sometimes lead to permanent hearing loss. Many treatments of generations past are what have resulted in today’s seniors with scarring and hearing impairments from childhood ailments and resulting remedies. Until recently, doctors aggressively treated ear infections with antibiotics, hoping to lessen the impact of repeat infections or resulting hearing loss. But no longer.

Today, doctors are cautious about giving antibiotics. Often, a doctor will try and first determine whether an infection is viral or bacterial before deciding a course of treatment, as antibiotics are ineffective against most viral infections. But, according to a recent study, bacterial infections should only be cautiously treated with antibiotics as wellóat least in children. A study involving 168 children with ear infections randomly provided patients with either antibiotics or a placebo as treatment. Three years later, researchers asked parents how many more ear infections the children had suffered. If children had taken antibiotics, there was 63 percent chance they’d had at least one subsequent infection vs. 43 percent of children who had been given a placebo.

Why? Researchers theorize that antibiotics might kill off some of the weaker bacteria that cause the infection, leaving more space for tougher and antibiotic-resistant bacteria to grow. Another possibility is that killing bacteria means less work for a childís immune system, leading to a weaker protection from infections in the future.

The study doesn’t ask parents to not seek treatment for ear infections or for doctors to not provide antibiotics when warranted. However, since most ear infections go away without treatment, consideration should be given whether treating ear infections with over-the-counter painkillers, such as acetaminophen, is a preferred option for children over age 2. For children under age 2 or for ones with more serious infections, antibiotics are typically still recommended.

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Swimmer’s ear doesn’t just affect kids either. It can strike people of all ages; kids are reported to get it more, but only because they are more apt to be spending significant time in the water during the summer time.

How do you know if you have swimmer’s ear? Ear pain is the most common symptom of swimmer’s ear. This pain can be exacerbated by tugging on the outer ear. In the event of swimmer’s ear, a red, swollen ear canal, perhaps with some discharge, is usually easily visible. Mild cases of swimmer’s ear can usually be treated with a home remedy of applying ear drops of a formula of equal parts of white vinegar to water twice a day and then taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. More serious cases of swimmer’s ear are usually treated with a form of antibiotic ear drops, which may or may not include steroids (which some believe helps to reduce inflammation, decrease pain, and eliminate symptoms faster).

Prevent swimmer’s ear by using a home remedy of equal parts of rubbing alcohol to water after swimming. Ear plugs may also provide a barrier to getting water in the ear. If pain does develop, immediately treat the ears with the solution and keep applying for a few days after all symptoms are gone. If possible, stay out the swimming pool until your ears are free from pain. Keep in mind that pools that are not properly maintained will be more apt to promote the spreading of swimmer’s ear.

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