What happens when tympanic membrane perforation is not treated

If left untreated, a perforated tympanic membrane can lead to recurrent otitis media and hearing loss that cannot be changed. When the tympanic membrane is perforated, outside bacteria can reach the tympanic chamber through the perforation and cause otitis media. Treatment of tympanic membrane perforation usually requires a distinction between traumatic causes and otitis media itself. For traumatic tympanic membrane perforations, most perforations heal in about four weeks after inflammation is controlled, resulting in improved hearing, but if left untreated, they do not heal and hearing will continue to decline, and tympanic membrane repair can be performed if they do not heal. Tympanic membrane perforation caused by otitis media usually requires surgical treatment, which can be divided into simple tympanic membrane repair and mastoid radical treatment plus tympanic membrane repair, which can reduce the occurrence of middle ear infection and improve hearing. Therefore, hearing loss and pus flow due to tympanic membrane perforation also need to be treated actively in order to achieve good results.