ENT - ear drum still not healed 5 years after grommets

[olaflikeswarmhugs]

DD had grommets inserted in July 2010 , they naturally made there way out two years later and she was discharged from ENT outpatients in Nov 2012 . However last year her ears became very very waxy and her hearing dipped again . So she was given a number of different drops to clear the wax then once that had cleared was sent for hearing test at local health centre .

At this text during an examination of her ears, it turns out one of her ear drums is still open . So she has been referred back to ENT .

So I'm basically worries that she's now walking about with a hole in her eardrum . The grommets have been out for nearly 3 years so if it's not healed by now will it ever heal ?

It depends on how big the hole is. Usually eardrums heal on their own within a few months but if the hole is too big then she might need surgery called a myringoplasty. This is basically a skin graft which takes skin from behind the ear and they make a new eardrum out of it. I had it done myself 3 years ago after my eardrum perforated and the hole was over 50% of my eardrum.

Thanks for. Reply fair .

I'm hoping she doesn't need surgery but I'm just thinking if it hasn't healed by now will it ever ? And how big of a hole can you live with long term ? not actually asking you there questions just the kind of things I've been worrying about

My 5yr old DD has permanently perforated ear drums after her ear drums repeatedly burst - no need for grommets as she had holes the whole time. Her hearing is fine and she has moulded ear plugs for swimming / she swims weekly. They will repair them about age 14

I had a perforated eardrum from 7 to about 15 when they repaired it. Had to be careful swimming, but wasn't a problem (earplugs much better now I think). Obviously hearing wasn't great but I coped fine. The myringoplasty went fine and my ears have been OK since. I still get perforated eardrums occasionally if I'm poorly but they heal by themselves.