Perferated(sp) Eardrum

[Lady Knight]

Hey everyone

Genies post reminded me about something I have been going to ask for ages and keep forgetting :rolleyes:.

A few months ago I was at the JDr's and he spent ages looking in my left ear, then asked when I had perforated my eardrum :huh: I told him as far as I knew - never. He told me he could see the hole in it :eek:. I used to have severe, chronic earache for years as a child, I'm picking it must have happened then but wouldn't someone have noticed !!!j

I still get earache if my ear or throat gets cold and I never, ever go out with wet hair. Instant Earache.

What I have been wondering is "Could the perforated eardrum result in a slight hearing loss in that ear??" I noticed when Greg was a baby that if I lie on my right side with my right ear on the pillow I really can't hear out of the left one, I have to lift my head so I can use the right ear. It is not a major worry, I can hear fine most of the time, just enquiring minds wanting to know :lol:

[Becky]

I would think that yes that would affect your hearing. Next time you are at the Dr's have them send for a hearing test. They may be able to repair the ear drum.

[Lady Knight]

I figure I've lived probably 30 years this way, but if I'm going to suffer hearing loss as I age, and most people do, I don't want a silly little hole in my eardrum making it happen faster.

Thanks JBecky, I had no idea that they could repair it :D

[KimmerRN]

:hmm2: I'm not too sure how much a perforated eardrum would effect your hearing. The main components (and YES I'm simplifying a GREAT deal) are the tiny bones in the ear.... the hammer, anvil & stirrup (common terms) and how the vibrations are conducted along with the performance of your otic nerve/cranial nerves. I'd just have your MD keep an eye on it. If it does cause you much difficulty, I think there is a way for them to surgically repair it. Many times they heal up themselves, so I've been told... :headscrat

Good luck, Maree!! :hug:

[Becky]

Also if you had cronic ear infections that could be the reason for the hearing loss.

[KimmerRN]

:yup:

[Lady Knight]

Wouldn't surprise me Becky I had an earache from the age of 5-6 thru to my early teens it seems like LOL. Not really that bad but I had ear infections from early childhood thru til my early teens and then constant tonsilitis until my late teens. I had so many tests for glandular fever (all negative) that I'm amazed I didn't leak when I had a drink of water :haha:

As I said no biggie I was just wondering and Genie reminded me so I thought I'd ask the experts :wink2:

Thanks for the info ladies, I didn't know that constant ear infections could cause hearing loss, that is something worth knowing if you have kids, thank goodness none of the boys had the same problem. :tup:

[PreemiesPooh]

That is interesting Maree,

I have a hole in my right eardrum from a bottle rocket exploding in my ear. When I was about 5 years old, I was with my brother outside and some kids were firing firworks and one just flew in my ear!

I have been tested, and It was determined I have some hearing loss in that ear.

I do not have repeated ear infections but have been warned I cannot swim underwater since it poses a risk in getting ear infections.