The cause of my perforated eardrum has been ongoing since the age of 8. As a child I never realized that the pain and throbbing of an infected ear wasn't normal. My parents took me to an ear specialist when I was 12 and the treatments he used were incorrect as we found out years later. Because of continuous infections and mistreatment of the problem the ear drum was completely destroyed, hence hearing loss began. It wasn't until I was 21 that I realized how bad the hearing loss actually was, when at work one day my boss came in and I didn't realize he was speaking to me until I looked up and saw his lips moving. He was standing on the side of my bad ear. I sought out a well known ear specialist who surgically took part of my ear lobe to create a drum. Remember I could hear the nurse's footsteps out in the hallway when I woke up - what a feeling! However, the very first cold I came down with burst the ear drum and created a severe infection. Had tubes in off and on after that to drain fluid build up. The drum never healed and left a small perforation which was repaired. Again, the first cold I got brought unbearable pressure and excruciating pain as the drum broke again. This time it healed with a microscopic hole which I've had for 30 years. Constantly wear cotton to keep air and wind out of it and Vaseline over the cotton when showering. Do not swim. Airplanes are the #1 killer with pain lasting 3-4 days after landing - do not fly. In the last 2 years, however, deafness in that ear is getting worse and hearing aids, if they're an option, are quite costly.

Mine was caused by an infection that wasn't detected soon enough. I keep having problems still. My ENT specialist says that it has healed but every time I go to a GP they tell me that they can see a perforation.

I went to two ENT doctors and both said I had a perforated eardrum. In fact I have two separate perforations! After three rounds of antibiotics and cleaning with what I would call a small vacuum cleaner, pain has increased and there is much pressure more than before.

My ear problem started in 2009 a few months after giving birth to my twins, it all started with an itch that I could not ignore, I had to clean them. A few days later pus started dripping from my ears, went to see an ENT and it helped until recently. The itch came back, I scratched, pus dripped again but this time around with a rotten smell, and my head keeps on buzzing. I'm always tired.

The cause of my perforated eardrum is strep throat.

Swimmers ear. Although, I am not swimming this time of year but, apparently water is getting in my ears from taking a shower.

My son had a cold an ear infection and conjunctivitis, and about a week later I caught his cold, my cold went and about a day later I woke up and my ear was throbbing. Now I have constant ringing in my ear and it feels like there is something in there which it isn't. My foods don't taste quite the same.

My eardrum was perforated when I was hit in the ear with a tennis ball while playing tennis.

I was in a pool with my son and he kneed me accidentally in my ear under water.

I perforated my eardrum when I dove off high dive into pool, hitting water with side of head. Ouch.

I received a blow to my face and have had ringing and roaring in my head for 45 years now. Drs. say there is a hole there, nothing they can repair. I have to have some type of sound at all times, for, if in a silent place, I almost panic. This has been very, very difficult to live with.