An ear examination is a thorough evaluation
of the ears that is done to screen for ear problems, such as
hearing loss, ear pain, discharge, lumps, or objects in the ear. An ear
examination can detect problems in the ear canal, eardrum, and the middle ear,
earwax, or an object like a bean or a bead.
During an ear examination, an instrument called an
otoscope is used to look at the outer ear canal and
eardrum. An otoscope is a handheld instrument with a light, a magnifying lens,
and a funnel-shaped viewing piece with a narrow, pointed end called a speculum.
A pneumatic otoscope has a rubber bulb that your doctor can
squeeze to give a puff of air into the ear canal. This allows the doctor to see how the eardrum moves.
Why It Is Done
An ear examination may be done:
- As part of a routine physical
- To screen babies and children for hearing
- To determine the cause of symptoms such as earache, a feeling
of pressure or fullness in the ear, or hearing loss.
- To check for
excess wax buildup or an object in the ear canal.
- To find the
location of an ear infection. The infection may involve only the external ear
canal (otitis externa) or the middle ear behind the eardrum
- To monitor the effectiveness of treatment for an
How To Prepare
It is important to sit very still
during an ear examination. A young child should be lying down with his or her
head turned to the side or sitting on the lap of an adult with the child's head
resting securely on the adult's chest. Older children and adults can sit with
the head tilted slightly toward the opposite shoulder.
Your doctor may need to remove earwax in order to see the eardrum.
How It Is Done
An ear examination can be done in a
doctor's office, a school, or the workplace.
ear examination, the doctor uses a special instrument called an
otoscope to look into the ear canal and see the eardrum.