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Otoscopy - otoscopic exam steps and external ear abnormalities
Course: Audiology (CDI 405)
16 Documents
Students shared 16 documents in this course
University: Murray State University
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Otoscopic Exam
● Involves examining the ear with the help of an otoscope
○ An otoscope is a medical device with an amplifier and light on the end that
allows us to look into ears
● Steps:
○ 1. Exam pinna for abnormalities
○ 2. Firmly grasp pinna and gently pull up & back to straighten the ear canal
○ 3. Insert speculum into canal & rotate to see the entire tympanic
membrane
○ 4. Examine EAC and tympanic membrane and note any abnormalities
○ 5. Remove otoscope if patient reports excessive pain
● How to hold an otoscope
○ Use bracing technique – one hand pulls up & back on the auricle while the
fingers of the other hand are placed against the head
Abnormalities of Pinna
● Preauricular cysts
○ Also referred to as “ear pits”
○ Congenital malformation in which a small hole/cyst exists just in front of
the ear
○ Usually harmless, but can become infected
○ May indicate kidney abnormalities
● Ear tags
○ Congenital malformation in which a small growth occurs just in front of the
ear
○ May indicate kidney abnormalities
● Atresia stenosis
○ Atresia
■ Absence of pinna or EAC
○ Microtia
■ Abnormally small pinna
○ Stenosis
■ Narrow EAC
● Trauma
○ Cauliflower ear
○ Hematoma on pinna
○ Burns or cancerous growths
Abnormalities of EAC
● Cerumen/Ear wax
○ Can be occluding (blocking ear canal) or non-occluding
● Foreign body
○ Any object in ear canal that shouldn’t be there
