Question
I like to clean my ears, and I do it whenever I feel like it. Last week, after I cleaned my ears, I went for a bath. There was nothing wrong after the bath, but the next day, my left ear hurt a lot. After going to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor said it was inflamed and prescribed some medicine drops. Now it’s better, but I feel that my left ear’s hearing is not as good as before. Could it be that the eardrum has burst? I have been examined and treated at New Idea Hospital, but my hearing has decreased after treatment.
Answer
Your situation might be due to the eardrum being damaged. It’s probably purulent otitis media; over time, the eardrum might have deteriorated. You can take a hearing test to see if the inner ear function is good. If it is, treating the inflammation can involve eardrum repair surgery, which could help restore your hearing. If it’s really not working out, I suggest you go to a regular hospital for a comprehensive examination; don’t lose out on big things over small ones.