I damaged my right eardrum about 25 years ago and nothing in that ear is right anymore. Severely scarred eardrum from surgery I finally had years later, stiff bones from the effect of the damaged eardrum, Eustachian tube malfunction so pressure doesn't normalize properly. It's a mess.

After the surgery, i was told to have my hearing checked yearly. I don't go that often, but I do every 5 years or so. Eventually, I'll get hearing aids because the hearing in my left ear sucks now too.

Of course, that doesn't help with the impacted sand.