You can sometimes hear somewhat without an intact eardrum.
However you usually don't hear as good without an eardrum as the eardrum separates the outer ear from the middle ear.
And when the sound waves reach the tympanic membrane also known as the ear drum they cause it to vibrate.
The vibrations of the ear drum are then transferred to the tiny bones in your middle ear.
And the middle ear bones then transfer those vibrating signals to your inner ear.
When the eardrum is not intact, there is usually some degree of hearing loss until it heals.
The opening in the eardrum most often heals by itself within 2 months if it is a small hole.
Hearing loss will be short-term if the rupture heals completely.
Rarely, other problems may occur, such as: Long-term hearing loss.
A perforated eardrum is a tear or hole in the ear's tympanic membrane (the medical name for your eardrum).
A perforated eardrum is also sometimes called a ruptured eardrum.
A perforated eardrum can really hurt.
Most ruptured (perforated) eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic drops if there's evidence of infection.
If the tear or hole in the eardrum doesn't heal by itself, treatment will likely involve procedures to close the tear or hole.
A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make the middle ear vulnerable to infections.
A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment.
But sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.
At home, you can ease the pain of a ruptured eardrum with heat and pain relievers.
Placing a warm, dry compress on your ear several times daily can help.
Promote healing by not blowing your nose any more than absolutely necessary.
Blowing your nose creates pressure in your ears.