Ear Examination

Question 1

What is the framework of an Ear Ex?

Answer 1

1. General Inspection
2. Gross hearing test
3. Weber’s test
4. Rinne’s test
5. External Ear
   
   • Inspection, palpation
6. Otoscopy
   
   • External auditory canal
   • tympanic membrane

Question 2

What would you look for on general inspection?

Answer 2

• Hearing aids
  
  • remove them when performing otoscopy
• Mobility aids
  
  • may indicate vestibularchoclear nerve pathology

Question 3

How would you perform gross hearing assessment?

Answer 3

• confirm c pt if they’ve noticed change in hearing
• position 60cm from ear and whisper 3 numbers on each side
• ask pt to repeat said numbers

Question 4

Explain the outcomes of a Weber’s Test

Answer 4

• Normal: sound is heard equally in both ears.
• Sensorineural deafness: sound is heard louder on the side of the intact ear.
• Conductive deafness: sound is heard louder on the side of the affected ear.

Question 5

What will the Rinne’s test test?

Answer 5

• bone conduction
• air conduction

Question 6

Explain the outcomes of Rinne’s test

Answer 6

• Normal result: air conduction > bone conduction (Rinne’s positive)
• Sensorineural deafness: air conduction > bone conduction (Rinne’s positive) – due to both air and bone conduction being reduced equally
• Conductive deafness: bone conduction > air conduction (Rinne’s negative)

Question 7

What will you inspect the external ear for?

Answer 7

Pinnae

• Asymmetry
• Pinnae diformity
• Ear piercing
• Oedema, erythema
• Scars
• Skin lesion

Mastoid

• oedema, erythema

Pre-auricular region

Choncal bowl

Question 8

What will you palpate on the external ear?

Answer 8

• tragus
• preauricular lymph node
• postauricular lymph node

Question 9

List the examples of ear deformities

Answer 9

• OE
• Mastoiditis
• BCC
• Actinic keratosis
• Melanoma
• Cauliflower ear
• Low-set ears
• Microtia
• Anotia