The tympanic membrane, commonly known as the eardrum, is the dividing line between the outer ear and the middle ear. The tympanic membrane perforation is usually self-healing in mild cases, but in severe cases, it may not heal for a long time. Long-term tympanic membrane perforation can cause inconvenience in life, such as not being able to swim, bathe, or get water in the ear. In general, tympanic membrane perforation depends on what is causing it, but some can heal on their own. If a small tympanic membrane perforation is caused by trauma, most of them can heal on their own. If the tympanic membrane is not infected, it will heal on its own in about a month to three months, if you keep the outer ear canal dry, avoid water, and avoid blowing your nose hard. In the case of acute or chronic middle ear infections, if you can keep your eardrum dry for a long time after the inflammation is controlled, it is possible for the eardrum to heal on its own, but in such cases, the eardrum is generally slow to heal. If the tympanic membrane is perforated and there is long-term inflammation and pus flow from the middle ear, the perforation will not usually heal on its own. If the tympanic membrane perforation does not heal for a long time, tympanic membrane repair can be performed, but it is generally recommended to repair the tympanic membrane in a dry ear situation. Therefore, it depends on the cause of the tympanic membrane perforation and whether there is inflammation in the middle ear. If the tympanic membrane perforation is caused by trauma, it is usually self-healing, while the possibility of self-healing is relatively low in the case of otitis media. If the tympanic membrane is perforated, it is important to keep the outer ear canal dry and clean. If it does not heal for a long time or if there is inflammation, you need to go to the hospital promptly.