An ear exam can find problems in the ear canal, eardrum, and middle ear. These problems may include infection, too much earwax, or an object like a bean or a bead. During an ear exam, a tool called an otoscope is used to look at the outer ear canal and eardrum.
The eardrum may be red and bulging if there is an infection. Amber liquid or bubbles behind the eardrum are often seen if fluid collects in the middle ear. Abnormal results may also be due to an external ear infection . You might feel pain when the outer ear is pulled or wiggled.
The otoscope exam helps to assess the condition of the external auditory canal (EAC), tympanic membrane (TM), and the middle ear. Mastering the otoscope exam leads to accurate diagnoses, allowing for targeted treatment and prevention of complications.
A healthcare provider will perform a balance examination, and possibly, a neurological assessment. Unlike other types of ear infections, inner ear infections can't be properly diagnosed with a visual examination.
Your GP will look into your ear using a device called an otoscope, to check for signs of inflammation or infection. Your GP may look at your eyes, sometimes while turning your head to check your reflexes. They may test your balance by asking you to walk around, and test your hearing with a tuning fork.
AAO-HNS Red Flags
History of pain, active drainage, or bleeding from an ear. Search for “pain,” “discomfort,” “pressure,” “fullness,” “otalgia,” “drain/drainage,” “blood,” “bleeding,” “pus,” or “otorrhea.” Sudden onset or rapidly progressive hearing loss.
A light beam shines through the otoscope into the ear canal. The provider will carefully move the scope in different directions to see the inside of the ear and eardrum. Sometimes, this view may be blocked by earwax. An ear specialist may use a binocular microscope to get a magnified look at the ear.
A healthy eardrum looks pinkish-gray. An infection of the middle ear, or an ear with otitis media, looks red, bulging, and there may be clear, yellow, or even greenish hued drainage.
It's important to talk with your health care provider if you think you have a middle-ear infection. If you have a high fever, severe pain behind your ear, or paralysis in your face, see your provider as soon as you can.
Chronic ear infections are not life threatening. However, they can be uncomfortable and may result in hearing loss and other serious complications.
difficulty hearing. discharge running out of the ear. a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear. itching and irritation in and around the ear.
What to Expect During the Test. The whole process should take about 30 minutes, and it's painless. Most adults who get hearing tests are asked to wear earphones and listen to short tones that are played at different volumes and pitches into one ear at a time.
Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) and a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum.
A GP may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist) who can do the test. It could take a few weeks to see a specialist so it might be quicker to get tested somewhere else, like at a large pharmacy or opticians. This is often free.
Signs of Inner Ear Infections
When you have an infection in your inner ear, you might experience the following symptoms: Ear ache. Nausea or vomiting. Tinnitus or ringing in your ears.
How Doctors Diagnose Ear Infections. The only way to know for sure if your child has one is for a doctor to look inside her ear with a tool called an otoscope, a tiny flashlight with a magnifying lens. A healthy eardrum (shown here) looks sort of clear and pinkish-gray. An infected one looks red and swollen.
In this examination, the doctor looks into the ear using an instrument called an otoscope. The otoscope consists of a handle and a cone-shaped attachment called an ear speculum, which contains a tiny lamp and is inserted into the ear canal.
You should ask your doctor for a hearing screening if you have concerns about your or your child's hearing. An audiologist can give you a more complete hearing test if you fail the screening. This is called an evaluation, and you should have it done as soon as possible after the failed screening.
After the test, you'll receive results by email or immediately on the screen. Some online tests have follow-up care with a hearing care specialist or audiologist that you can schedule or be contacted by email or phone.
There are three main types of ear infections: acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), and otitis externa, also known as swimmer's ear. The symptoms of these ear infections are very similar and can include: Earache. Fever.
The most common symptoms of ear fluid are mild discomfort, fullness in the ear, and mild hearing problems. Some children also have disturbed sleep, emotional distress, delayed speech, irritability, clumsiness, balance problems, or trouble learning in school.
Allergies, head colds, pregnancy, and air pressure are some common reasons it may feel like your ears are full. Typically, plugged ears settle after a few days. Decongestants and nasal sprays are the best treatment for plugged ears that allergies and head colds cause.
A fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher. Pus, discharge, or fluid coming from the ear. Worsening symptoms. Symptoms of a middle ear infection that last for more than 2–3 days.