You may have to visit an audiologist or hearing specialist from time to time due to hearing loss or ear pain. If you do, an otoscopy, more commonly known as an ear examination, may be conducted.
Although middle-ear infections are more common in children, they can happen at any age. Should the need to visit an audiologist arise, here are some things you need to know:
Reasons Why You Need To Get an Ear Examination
This procedure is done so the audiologist can properly diagnose what’s happening in your hearing. Hearing loss and other ear-related problems can be caused by several reasons.
If you have been treated by the doctor for an ear problem before, an otoscopy can also show if the treatments are working as they should. An otoscopy can be done by a doctor at a hospital or a private clinic.
Children and adults aren’t the only ones who can get an otoscopy. This procedure can also be performed on newborns to see if they’re experiencing hearing loss. Hearing loss can be prevented by the audiologist if spotted as early as possible.
How Is an Ear Exam Performed?
An ear exam begins by having the patient sit down in a chair. Both ears will be checked by the audiologist to see what’s the current condition. The patient will be asked to tilt their heads to the side. This makes the inspection easier for the audiologist. Younger children will be asked to lie on a bed instead of having their heads turned to the side.
During an otoscopy, the doctor will use a specialized tool known as an otoscope. It’s a handheld device that is inserted inside your ear canal. It shines a bright beam of light to help the doctor see and examine your ear’s current condition. The doctor may rotate the otoscope in various directions to properly check your ears.
In some cases, your audiologist may use a pneumatic otoscope. Similar to a regular otoscope, it’s also inserted inside your ear. However, a pneumatic otoscope has a small plastic bulb on the end. This blows a puff of air into your eardrum, allowing the audiologist to check your ear’s response to pressure changes.
Most of the time, an otoscopy is not painful. However, the pointed end of the otoscope can irritate the lining of your ear canal, especially if there’s an infection. On rare occasions, an otoscope can scrape the lining and cause bleeding inside the ear. That’s why you must stay perfectly still as the doctor inspects.
Common Results of an Ear Exam
After the audiologist looks into your ear, they’ll let you know the current situation of your inner ear. A healthy ear canal can vary in size and shape and appears the same color as your skin. On the other hand, the eardrum should be pearly white or gray. It should also not bulge outwards.
However, if the ear canal is red, swollen, or filled with yellowish-green pus, it means there’s something wrong with it. Also, if the audiologist notices that the eardrum is red and bulging or has any perforations and scars, treatment should be done immediately.
Additional Tests That Can Be Done Afterwards
Depending on the results of the otoscopy, your doctor may have to perform a few additional tests. These are done to be sure of the causes of your ear condition. Some of these tests include:
- Private Imaging – This can show the audiologist the other parts of the inner ear that weren’t visible during the otoscopy. Your doctor can use computerized tomography (CT) scans, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
- Vestibular Tests – Another additional test that can be done is something called a vestibular test. This detects any damage to your vestibular system and evaluates your hearing function. Vestibular tests can also determine balance and coordination because the inner ear is responsible for these functions.
- Acoustic Immittance Testing – This can measure how effective your middle ear is in relaying sounds. In this test, a pressurized probe is inserted into the canal. It then releases sound and air pressure towards the eardrum to detect its response.
Depending on the results, a follow-up evaluation may happen. The audiologist can also prescribe you medications and offer you hearing aids and other solutions. Regardless, audiologists, ENTs, and other hearing specialists are there to help you with your ears.
