Eardrum Hole and Treatment Eardrum rupture (eardrum perforation or ruptured eardrum) is a condition in which a small hole or tear appears in or in the eardrum (also called eardrum perforation or tympanic membrane perforation) Ear infections, pressure changes, and injury are common causes of perforation of the eardrum. Does the perforated eardrum renew itself? Most ruptured tympanic membranes heal without invasive treatment and rarely cause permanent hearing loss (in traumatic tympanic perforations, the membrane is likely to close spontaneously if water is not missed. However, in tympanic membrane perforations due to gunshot wounds or hot burns, cells at the edges of the hole can also be found. It's ruined, so it's unlikely to shut itself off). What is the eardrum and what does it do? The eardrums are a thin membrane-shaped tissue that divides your middle ear and outer ear canal. This membrane vibrates when sound waves enter your ear. Vibration passes through the middle ear bone...