Ear Examination
Test Overview
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,
such as
infection, excessive
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 health professional can
squeeze to give a puff of air into the ear canal. This allows your health
professional to see how the eardrum responds.
| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: April 22, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology |
|
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