Perforated eardrum

Your ears are divided into three parts. These are the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

The eardrum is a small circular membrane covered in thick skin. It's located between the outer and the middle ear. A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear in the eardrum.

Sound waves come into your outer ear and make your eardrum vibrate. These vibrations then pass from your eardrum to tiny bones in your middle ear, where they are passed to the cochlea in your inner ear. Your cochlea then converts the vibrations to sound signals, which are sent to your brain so you can hear sounds.

Symptoms of a perforated eardrum include earache and hearing problems, and it is usually caused by an ear infection or by putting an object into your ear. A perforated eardrum usually heals by itself, although sometimes surgery is required.