Home Ear Examination

Ear Exam, Home

Test Overview

A home ear examination is a visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum using an instrument called an otoscope . 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 home ear examination can help detect many ear problems, such as ear infections, excessive earwax, or an object in the ear canal.

After receiving instructions and training from a health professional, home ear examinations can be helpful for parents of young children who frequently get ear infections and earaches. Sometimes a child may have an ear infection in which the only outward symptom may be fussiness, a fever, or tugging at the ear. A home ear examination may help reveal the cause of these symptoms. But it is challenging to learn to use an otoscope, so consultation with a health professional is generally necessary.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: April 22, 2009
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
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