Punctured eardrum ?

[transparant]

My youngest son (5) punctured his eardrum yesterday. He decided to "clean his ears" and tripped over my older daughter who was sitting on the floor. The Q-Tip went clear through his eardrum.

I wasn't home at the time, and pulled into the driveway just seconds after it happened. My 13 yr. old carried him out and he had blood running from his ear down his cheek.

I took him to the Dr. and she said it will heal itself and prescribed some antibiotic drops for him. Today he says that he can't hear that well. The Dr. said that can be normal for a day or so - but I've talked to others who have done this and they said their hearing wasn't back to normal for a few months!

Has this ever happened to any of you - and if so, did you suffer hearing loss from it? My sons ear is still bleeding/draining a bit today - but he seems ok otherwise...not really in that much pain.

THANKS!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Very few thread titles make me say "OUCH!" out loud, but this one did!

My DD20 had chronic inner-ear infections from the time she was a few months old, until she got tubes at 11 months. Once the tubes fell out, they started back up again.

She had one infection and I remember she was standing at our upstairs balcony just screaming her head off, then all of the sudden she let out this yell and I noticed blood trickling down her jaw.

Well, long story short - her ear drum ruptured. Ironically, her ear stopped hurting after that. I guess it relieved the pressure.

I do remember (this was about 13 years ago) her mentioning that her ear felt "stuffy" for a few days. In reality she was probably going through what your son is going through now.

I sure hope he gets better soon!

 

[100 acre wood]

Hi,
never had this happen, but happen to know that until the hole in his eardrum exists, his hearing will not be normal til it heals completely. Good luck, and put those Qtips up high, to be treated like a poisonous substance!

 

[Jpgirl]

My ds is a veteran of ear infections and ruptured ear drums (couldn't get the infections under control) and PE tubes. When the ear drum heals it heals with scar tissue-like everything else in your body. With just one accident I don't think he'll lose that much hearing. It did take my ds several months to regain his hearing (he could hear but not clearly-like having water in your ears). But after chronic ruptures he does have permanent hearing loss. Gee I guess my mom was right about not running around with Q-Tips in my ears-aren't moms always right . Sorry just had to throw that in. That description did make me cringe. OUCH

 

[transparant]

Hi,
never had this happen, but happen to know that until the hole in his eardrum exists, his hearing will not be normal til it heals completely. Good luck, and put those Qtips up high, to be treated like a poisonous substance!

They're normally out of reach - but stupid me got them down to clean the dogs ear with them and left them within his reach. We had looooong talk about how he should NEVER put anything in his ears. I think he learned the hard way.

 

[Uncle Remus]

OW! I hope everything works out.

Wasn't it Jimmeny Cricket who said "Don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear"?

 

[Sthronds]

I've had a ruptured ear drum during an ear infection and didn't suffer any permanent problems, it just took a few days to heal. It relieved the pressure and I wasn't in pain anymore so it was a good thing in a way. I hope your son feels better soon!

 

[100 acre wood]

They're normally out of reach - but stupid me got them down to clean the dogs ear with them and left them within his reach. We had looooong talk about how he should NEVER put anything in his ears. I think he learned the hard way.

Good, sorry to have offered unrequested advice!!

To the postr whose child has had so many ruptured ear drums and scar tissue form, otologists can form new eardrums from a skin graft to improve the hearing, should it ever be so bad as to require the measure....

I am a very ear orientated parent, my one DS was born without an ear canal and has since had successful reconstruction, so have learned so much throughout the process!!Hope thats not TMI!

 

[Lil_Tink]

This happened to my friend, I beleive it got better after a month or two. Best wishes for your little guy.

 

[binny]

My mom said that back before anitbiotics were widely used any ear infection automatically ran its course and most of them ruptured. She remembers several when she was a child.

I know when my friends ds had a severe infection that would not heal he was relieved when it finally burst and has sufferred no permanent damage taht they can tell so far.


You might ask your Dr. about water though. Karissa's is perferated right now ( her last ear tube just feel out) and her ENT doesnt want her submerging her head for length of time until it heals.
I had to buy earplugs for her so we could use the pool

 

[palmtreegirl]

No experience but to you and your little guy. Hope it heals quickly!

 

[lyeag]

to your little guy! My little one had a ruptured eardrum a while back, and it healed up just fine. It is so hard to see them in pain though, isn't it? I would keep his head out of the water for a while just in case.

 

[Sleepy]

I am 36 years old and ruptured my eardrum when I was 3. I also tried to clean my own ear, but just rammed it into the canal. Never tripped or anything. The doc said it would be a miracle if I ever got my hearing in that ear. I did get my hearing back, but it is partial and I do have problems with a sound similar to air puffing occasionally. It is very annoying. I have difficulty hearing pronunciation of words when there is background noise like the tv going, crowds talking or water running. THat is not to be mistaken with not hearing at all. I guess, according to the docs initial prognosis, that I should be thankful I can even hear from that ear.

 

[Aidensmom]

I am 36 years old and ruptured my eardrum when I was 3. I also tried to clean my own ear, but just rammed it into the canal. Never tripped or anything. The doc said it would be a miracle if I ever got my hearing in that ear. I did get my hearing back, but it is partial and I do have problems with a sound similar to air puffing occasionally. It is very annoying. I have difficulty hearing pronunciation of words when there is background noise like the tv going, crowds talking or water running. THat is not to be mistaken with not hearing at all. I guess, according to the docs initial prognosis, that I should be thankful I can even hear from that ear.

When I was a child, I had chronic ear infections and my eardrum ruptured twice. I have a slight hearing loss in that ear, manifesting like what is described here. I have a little trouble figuring out what someone is saying if I am not looking directly at them where I can read their lips, and I frustrated my poor child to death when he was a little younger and not yet pronouncing things well.

Most people seem to recover with little to no loss, especially with one incident, but I think it really depends on how the scar tissue forms.

 

[Sleepy]

........and I frustrated my poor child to death when he was a little younger and not yet pronouncing things well.

I now have a 14 year old who refuses to talk with motion of jaw and lips. Everything is a mumble. Doesn't help my situation.