Originally Posted by
2StgTurbine
Where did you here this?
Professional diver training.
Originally Posted by
2StgTurbine
A ruptured eardrum is annoying, but it does not cause hearing loss. Eardrums grow back just like any other skin. Everything just sounds muffled for about a week and then hearing rapidly returns to normal. It doesn't even hurt (well the initial rupture does, but after that, it feels fine).
From WebMD:
"Typically, no specific treatment is needed for a ruptured eardrum because most heal on their own within 2-3 months. "
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ruptured-eardrum-symptoms-and-treatments
And 2-3 months is for your normal hearing to return. After a week, I felt like my hearing had returned to normal, but it was probably at 90%.
Better do some more google. Depends on how violent the rupture was... the eardrum as you say will either grow back (small hole) or can be surgically repaired (large hole). But a forceful rupture can also damage all the inner ear structures in the process and those don't grow back.
A severe pressure-unduced trauma is typically way worse than enthusiastic use of a qtip.