Ear Examination

How It Is Done

An ear examination can be done in a health professional's office, a school, or the workplace.

For an ear examination, the health professional uses a special instrument called an otoscope to look into the ear canal and see the eardrum.

Your health professional will gently pull your ear back and slightly up to straighten the ear canal. If a baby under 12 months is being examined, the ear will be pulled downward and out to straighten the ear canal. The health professional will then insert the pointed end (speculum) of the otoscope into your ear and gently move the speculum through the middle of your ear canal to avoid irritating the canal lining. The health professional will look at each eardrum (tympanic membrane).

Using a pneumatic otoscope lets your health professional see what the eardrum looks like and how well it moves when the pressure inside the ear canal is changed. It helps your health professional determine if there is a problem with the eustachian tube or fluid behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion). A normal eardrum will flex inward and outward in response to the changes in pressure.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: April 30, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
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