PERFORMING OTOSCOPIC EXAMINATION

Otoscopic Examination

After completing the case history, the audiologist should perform otoscopic examination of the patient's ear. An otoscope is the instrument for examining the ear, as illustrated in picture below.

Example of otoscope used for examining the ear with reusable speculum. The speculum is the cone shaped attachment that is inserted into the ear canal

Procedure in performing the otoscopic examination

1) Choose appropriate speculum size according to patient's ear canal size.

2) Attache the speculum to the otoscope.

3) Inspect whether there are any signs of infections or ear abnormalities and palpate patient's pinna. 

To note: please do on the better ear first in order to avoid from spreading the infection to the good ear.

3) Hold the otoscope like a pen and use the little finger to hold at the cheek of the patient to prevent any trauma to the ear.

4) Please be reminded that use our right hand for examine the right ear or vice versa.

5)  Then straighten the ear canal by gently pulling the pinna upwards and backwards for adult.
 

In paediatric, the pinna should be pulled downward and backward.

6) Observe the condition of patient's ear canals and tympanic membranes by rotating your otoscpoce.

The audiologist should see the condition of the pinna and the external auditory meatus and must rule out collapse of the external auditory canal. The audiologist should use insert phone instead of headphone to prevent collapse of the ear canals especially when conducting pure tone audiometry test that can give high frequency conductive hearing loss when using headphone.