A perforated eardrum is also sometimes called a ruptured eardrum. A perforated eardrum can really hurt. And if you can't hear as well as usual, it can be pretty scary. The good news is, most people who have a perforated eardrum get all their hearing back eventually.

How do I know if I ruptured my eardrum?

Pressure from these fluids can cause the eardrum to rupture. Barotrauma. Barotrauma is stress exerted on your eardrum when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance. If the pressure is severe, your eardrum can rupture.

How long will a ruptured eardrum hurt?

A perforated eardrum is a tear or hole in the ear's tympanic membrane (the eardrum). A perforated eardrum is also called a ruptured eardrum. A perforated (PER-fer-ate-id) eardrum can hurt, but most heal in a few days to weeks. If they don't heal, sometimes doctors do a surgery to fix the hole.