27/05/2026
A perforated eardrum (also called a tympanic membrane perforation) is essentially a hole or tear in the thin tissue separating the outer ear canal from the middle ear.
Keeping the ear dry with a custom earplug may help the eardrum heal spontaneously.
❓How:
Well, healing tissue does better in a relatively stable, dry environment. Repeated moisture exposure can soften and irritate the tissue around the tear.
Soapy, pool and lake water are especially risky 😬
Chlorinated pools are not sterile, and natural water sources can contain large amounts of bacteria or fungi. These can cause painful infections in an already vulnerable ear.
Many small perforations heal on their own within a few weeks to a couple of months, especially if:
👂the ear stays dry,
👂infections are avoided,
👂and there’s no repeated trauma or pressure.
Larger perforations or those caused by infection may take longer or need specialist treatment from an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (ENT) - luckily, Custom Earplugs WA can make a number of recommendations on who to see within WA due to our Audiology background 😊.
*Bottom Line*
KEEP YOUR EAR DRY TO GIVE YOUR EARDRUM THE BEST CHANCE TO HEAL
