Can i fly with a perforated eardrum

Barotrauma can also occur during explosions or diving mishaps. Even during a very brief flight, the change in pressure due to high flying altitudes may cause your aching eardrum to re-rupture. The tympanic membrane also known as the eardrum separates the outer and middle ears. This membrane vibrates when sound waves hit it, creating nerve impulses that the brain identifies as sound. The tympanic membrane is very delicate, allowing it to respond to the softest sounds.

This fragility, which makes eavesdropping possible, also creates the possibility of perforation. Eardrum perforations can cause:. People experiencing these symptoms need to seek immediate medical attention. A health care professional will be able to use an otoscope to view the eardrum, assess the degree of damage, and prescribe the necessary treatment. When you have a perforated eardrum, the air pressure in your middle ear can balance out more easily with the pressure of the surrounding air, as the air is able to pass through the hole.

This means flying with a perforated eardrum may actually cause less discomfort than usual. Read the answers to more questions about travel health. Page last reviewed: 17 September Next review due: 17 September Home Common health questions Travel health Back to Travel health.

Is it safe to fly with a perforated eardrum? When you fly, the air pressure around you changes quickly, which is why you may feel pressure changes in your ears during takeoff and landing. If you are flying with a ruptured eardrum, you will actually experience less discomfort than usual.

Flying after a recent surgery comes with a number of risks, including pain and blood clotting. If you need to travel when you have a ruptured eardrum, we recommend that you speak to our ENT for ear problems in Los Angeles beforehand.

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