What is a perforated eardrum and what problems can it cause?
A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear that has developed in the eardrum. It can affect hearing. However, the extent of hearing loss can vary greatly. For example, tiny perforations may only cause minimal loss of hearing. Larger perforations may affect hearing more severely. Also, if the ossicles are damaged in addition to the eardrum then the hearing loss would be much greater than, say, a small perforation which is not close to the ossicles. Also, with a perforation, you are at greater risk of developing an ear infection. This is because the eardrum acts as a barrier to bacteria and other germs that may get into the middle ear.
