What Is a Retracted Eardrum?
- Written By: Christina Edwards
- Edited By: W. Everett
- Last Modified Date: 23 March 2013
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation
A retracted eardrum occurs when a person's eardrum, or tympanic membrane, gets sucked or pulled into the space behind it. This happens when the pressure in this space, known as the middle ear, is too low. Infections usually cause this ear problem, but a quick change in outside air pressure can also cause the pressure inside of a person's ear to drop rapidly, possibly causing a retracted eardrum.
The tympanic membrane is more commonly referred to as the eardrum, and it is a very thin, flexible membrane. It is located between the outer ear canal and the middle ear. A thin tube, known as the eustachian tube, connects the middle ear to a person's nose and throat and helps maintain the proper pressure in the middle ear, relative to the outside pressure. When this tube is blocked, the pressure in a person's ear gets too low, creating a vacuum.
Infection is considered to be the main cause of a blocked eustachian tube. During many ear infections, fluid will build up in either the inner or middle ear. This fluid will sometimes block the opening to the eustachian tube in the ear. Air from the outside of the ear can not get into the middle ear, causing the negative pressure that can create a retracted eardrum. Although it can happen in adults, retracted eardrums occur more often in children, especially those who get recurring ear infections.
One of the main symptoms of this condition is increased hearing sensitivity. A person with a retracted eardrum often hears most sounds louder than they really are. Pain may also be present.
To diagnose a retracted eardrum, or any other ear infection, a doctor can look into a person's ear with an otoscope. By looking through this tool, he can see whether an eardrum is inflamed, bulged out, or retracted. Many times, a retracted eardrum is not considered very serious. Treatment may not be necessary, as the eustachian tube may become clear on its own.
In more serious cases, however, a physician may refer a patient to a otolaryngologist, which is a doctor who specializes in ear, nose, and throat problems. These doctors may recommend that patients perform something called a valsalva maneuver. This maneuver can increase the pressure in the middle ear, which will often help the eardrum return to its natural position. To do this, a patient is instructed to hold his breath by plugging his nose and closing his mouth while trying to force air out at the same time. Sometimes decongestants are recommended to drain any mucus away from the eustachian tube.
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anon326489
Post 10 |
I've had otitis media for six weeks now and had five lots of antibiotics and none of them have helped. I've been given nasal drops and ear drops, and still no help. This is mainly down to the GP prescribing me the wrong antibiotics the first three times and this allowed the infection to take hold. I eventually got to see a senior ENT doctor who used suction to clean my ear out and then noticed I had a retracted eardrum, so they numbed my ear, pierced the eardrum and sucked some more of the fluid behind it out. I am told in a few days my hearing should return to normal, and the infection should now go. This wasn't a nice thing to have done, but I am hoping it helps. |
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bellab63
Post 9 |
I first started out with a sinus infection, cleared it up, then a week later had problems with pressure in my left ear. I went to the ENT and he said I had a retracted eardrum and told me to use nose drops. I am in Croatia now and flying back home in a month. Will I have a problem flying with a retracted eardrum? By the way, I have been taking decongestants and doing the malsalva man, every hour during the day for the past week and it hasn't gotten any better. So far, the ENTs I have seen here stink! |
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anon270589
Post 7 |
I had a retracted eardrum and it was diagnosed four weeks ago. I had antibiotic therapy in the first week then a corticosteroid during the second week and now another antibiotic therapy. Aside from the valsalva maneuver, what else I can do to promote normal pressure in my eustachian tube? |
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anon242364
Post 6 |
An ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor treats these types of problems. Your regular doctor should recommend one or check at your local hospital. |
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anon175529
Post 5 |
@BabaB: Thank you for your reply. What kind of antibiotics cleared your sister's infections? My mother takes a medicine care, but it doesn't stop being damaged by some infections. Her situation is worsening these days. If you can give us any advice, please let us know. Thank you. |
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Esther11
Post 4 |
A retracted eardrum -- or really any damage to the ear -- is scary stuff. I work as a volunteer answering phones in a clinic, and the kind of things that people do to their ears is really just beyond the pale. Luckily, working there has given me some good tips on caring for my ears though. My nurse friends there tell me that the best ways to care for your ears are by keeping them clean to avoid infection, avoiding really loud noises, and of course, not sticking things down in them -- even Q-tips. So take care of your ears, people -- believe me, you don't want to see what happens if you don't! |
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BabaB
Post 3 |
@mandalay - Sorry about your mother's ear problem. I know how scary these situations can be because my sister used to be at risk for a retracted eardrum. My sister used to have a ton of ear infections when she was younger, to the point where her hearing was really impaired a lot of the time. I remember the doctors telling my mom that she was at risk for a retracted eardrum, and how frightening that was. Luckily, they got her on some strong antibiotics and everything cleared up, so her hearing impairment was temporary, which we were so thankful for. |
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mandalay
Post 2 |
My mother has had a eardrum-related sudden deafness, and has no problem in her head according to a brain CT scan. As her doctor said, the major cause of her deafness is that her right eardrum is pulled inside, and it is probably caused by middle ear infection. Her doctor, however, couldn't provide any absolute solution for her ears. If anybody knows any medical specialist in that field in the world, please tell me. We can go anywhere around the globe even to the other side of the planet. Thanks.
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