A ruptured eardrum can make your ear ache, ring or leak, and lying down at night can feel worse. If you’re wondering what side to sleep on and how to help it heal, this guide is for you.
It covers the best sleep position, simple home care, how long healing usually takes, and the symptoms that need a doctor quickly.
Key takeaways
- A ruptured (perforated) eardrum usually heals on its own within 2 months, the NHS and MedlinePlus say.
- Keep the ear dry: no swimming, and plug the outer ear with cotton wool when you shower or wash your hair.
- Get urgent help for sudden hearing loss, severe dizziness, fever or severe pain.
What side to sleep on with a ruptured eardrum
There’s no research on the best sleep position for a ruptured eardrum. A practical choice is to sleep on your other side, with the sore ear facing up, so nothing presses on it. If the ear is leaking, lay a clean towel over your pillow. Sleeping on your back with your head slightly raised is another comfortable option.
What is a ruptured eardrum?
Your eardrum is a thin layer of tissue between your outer and middle ear. A ruptured eardrum, also called a perforated eardrum, is a hole or tear in it.
MedlinePlus says ear infections are a common cause, especially in children, because fluid behind the eardrum builds up pressure. Other causes include very loud noises, quick pressure changes like flying or scuba diving, an injury, or pushing cotton swabs or small objects into the ear.
Ruptured eardrum symptoms
The NHS says symptoms usually start suddenly and affect one ear:
- Hearing loss or muffled hearing
- Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
- Earache or itching
- Fluid, blood or pus leaking from the ear
- Dizziness
- A high temperature
MedlinePlus notes that ear pain may suddenly ease right after the eardrum ruptures, as the pressure is released.
6 tips for sleeping better
1. Sore ear up
Lie on your good side, or on your back, so there’s no pressure on the injured ear.
2. Prop your head up
An extra pillow can feel more comfortable if your ear feels full or blocked.
3. Protect the pillow
If your ear is leaking, put a clean towel or pillowcase over your pillow and change it often.
4. Ease the pain before bed
The NHS and MedlinePlus suggest pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol). MedlinePlus also suggests a warm compress on the ear. Follow the label, and ask a pharmacist first for children or if you take other medicines.
5. Keep the ear dry
Don’t put anything inside the ear canal. Keep water out when you wash, as explained below.
6. Don’t blow your nose hard
The NHS says to try not to blow your nose too hard while the eardrum heals, because it pushes pressure into the ear.
How to help it heal
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Plug the outer ear with cotton wool (the NHS suggests coating it in petroleum jelly) when you shower or wash your hair | Swim or get the ear wet until it heals |
| Take pain relievers if needed | Put cotton buds or eardrops in the ear unless a doctor says so |
| Use a warm compress for comfort (MedlinePlus) | Blow your nose hard |
| See a doctor if it is not improving after a few weeks | Ignore sudden hearing loss or severe dizziness |
If an infection caused the rupture, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. The NHS says it’s safe to fly with a perforated eardrum, unless you’ve had surgery to repair it.
How long does it take to heal?
A perforated eardrum usually gets better on its own within 2 months, and hearing usually returns to normal, the NHS says. MedlinePlus says small holes most often heal by themselves within 2 months, but larger holes may need surgery. The NHS calls this repair surgery a myringoplasty.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few weeks, the NHS advises. Get urgent medical help if you have:
- Sudden hearing loss, or hearing that keeps getting worse
- Hearing loss with earache or discharge from the ear
- Severe dizziness
- A fever or feeling generally unwell
- Severe pain or loud ringing
- Something stuck in your ear
MedlinePlus also says to contact a provider if symptoms last more than 2 months after treatment. For other common sleep problems, see our guide to acid reflux at night.
Frequently asked questions
What does a burst eardrum feel like?
The NHS says symptoms usually start suddenly in one ear and can include hearing loss, ringing, earache, itching, fluid or blood leaking, dizziness and a high temperature. MedlinePlus notes pain may suddenly ease right after it ruptures.
Can a ruptured eardrum heal itself?
Yes, usually. The NHS says a perforated eardrum usually gets better on its own within 2 months. MedlinePlus says small holes often heal by themselves, but larger ones may need surgery.
Can you hear with a ruptured eardrum?
Often yes, but hearing may be muffled or reduced in that ear. The NHS says hearing usually returns to normal once the eardrum heals. Get urgent help for sudden or worsening hearing loss.
How do you treat a ruptured eardrum?
Most heal on their own. Keep the ear dry, avoid swimming, take pain relievers if needed and do not put anything in the ear. A doctor may give antibiotics for infection, and surgery can repair a hole that does not heal.
Should I go to the ER if my eardrum bursts?
Get urgent care if you have sudden hearing loss, severe dizziness, fever, severe pain, loud ringing or something stuck in your ear, MedlinePlus advises. Otherwise, see a doctor if it is not improving after a few weeks.
Does a ruptured eardrum feel like it is clogged?
It can. Muffled hearing and a full feeling are common, along with ringing or fluid from the ear. If your ear feels blocked with sudden hearing loss, get checked urgently.
What side should I sleep on with a ruptured eardrum?
There is no research on this, but sleeping on your other side, with the sore ear facing up, keeps pressure off it. Put a towel on the pillow if the ear is leaking, and keep the ear dry.
The bottom line
A ruptured eardrum usually heals on its own within 2 months. Sleep with the sore ear facing up, keep the ear dry, don’t put anything in it and avoid blowing your nose hard. See a doctor if it isn’t improving after a few weeks, and get urgent help for sudden hearing loss, severe dizziness, fever or severe pain.