Common symptoms
- Ear discharge that keeps coming back
- Discharge that appears after the ear gets wet
- Gradual hearing loss on one side
- A sensation of blockage or fullness
- Ringing in the ear
- Ear ache during an infection
- A known hole in the eardrum after an old infection or injury
When to see an ENT specialist
- Ear discharge lasting more than two weeks
- Discharge that returns every time water enters the ear
- Hearing loss that is affecting conversation, phone calls or school
- Discharge that smells offensive
- Any discharge with dizziness, facial weakness or severe headache — the same day
- A child with repeated ear infections and hearing difficulty
Do not wait for an appointment. Ear discharge together with dizziness, weakness of the face, or severe headache needs the hospital emergency department now, not an appointment.
How it is assessed
The ear is examined with an otoscope and then, where needed, with ear endoscopy, which gives a magnified view of the eardrum on a monitor — the size and position of the perforation, the state of the middle ear, and whether the hearing bones are involved. You can see it on the screen as it is done.
A hearing test is important before any decision about surgery, both to measure the loss and to establish where it comes from; Dr. Mahesh refers for audiometry. A CT scan of the temporal bone is advised where cholesteatoma is suspected or when the disease involves the mastoid.
Treatment
The first step in an actively discharging ear is to settle the infection: careful cleaning of the ear canal, the right ear drops, and keeping the ear dry. Strict water precautions matter more than most people expect, and often break the cycle on their own.
Tympanoplasty repairs the perforation using the body’s own tissue, with the aims of stopping the discharge, protecting the middle ear and improving hearing. Where infection has spread into the mastoid bone, or where cholesteatoma is present, mastoidectomy is needed to clear the disease — here the priority is a safe, dry ear first, with hearing addressed alongside or afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Will my hearing come back after eardrum repair?
Hearing usually improves when the loss is due to the perforation itself. How much depends on whether the hearing bones are intact and whether the inner ear is affected, which is why a hearing test is done before surgery. The first aim of surgery is always a safe, dry ear.
Can a hole in the eardrum heal on its own?
Small perforations from a recent infection or injury often heal by themselves over a few weeks. A hole that has been present for months, or one that discharges repeatedly, generally does not close without repair.
Can I swim with a perforated eardrum?
Swimming is best avoided until the ear has been assessed, because water entering the middle ear is the usual trigger for discharge. Protection during bathing is advised in the meantime and will be explained at the consultation.
Is ear surgery done under general anaesthesia?
Commonly yes, though some procedures can be done under local anaesthesia. The approach, the expected stay and the recovery are discussed before surgery is planned.
This page is general information to help you decide when to seek care. It is not a diagnosis — the right treatment depends on examination.