Understanding the Eardrum
The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is a thin layer of skin that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It protects the deeper ear structures and focuses sound energy onto the ossicular chain, a series of three bones (malleus, incus, and stapes) that transmit sound from the middle ear to the inner ear, where nerve endings convert it into signals for the brain.
What is Eardrum Perforation?
Eardrum perforation can impair hearing and lead to serious complications, so it’s crucial to seek prompt treatment in NYC. This condition, where a hole in the tympanic membrane disrupts sound transfer to the ossicular chain, often results from injury or repeated infections. It can also damage or dislocate the ossicular bones, causing conductive hearing loss.
How is it Treated?
Untreated eardrum perforation can lead to significant hearing loss and infections. While some perforations may heal on their own, if it doesn’t close within three months, surgery may be necessary. Tympanoplasty is the primary procedure to repair a ruptured eardrum and can also address damaged ossicles through ossicular chain reconstruction, using a graft from behind the ear, which may leave a small scar.
