Ears

Question 1

Anatomy

Answer 1

• Outer Ear
• Pinna
• External auditory meatus
• Lateral surface of tympanic
membrane
• Middle Ear
• Medial surface of tympanic
membrane
• tympanic cavity
• mastoid air cells
• Eustachian tube

Question 2

Otoscopy – history taking

Answer 2

Prior to otoscopy we recommend that the following questions are asked.
•Do you currently have any pain in your ears?
•Do your ears ever discharge or bleed?
•Have you had any recent infections in your ears?
•Have you ever had any surgery (operations) on your ears?
•Do you have any perforations (holes) in your ear drums that you know of?

Question 3

5 things to remember:

Answer 3

Pain, discharge, and the 3 “tions” which are infections, operations, perforations

Question 4

Otoscopy – contra-indications

Answer 4

• Contra-indications are states or conditions of the ear which need to be taken into account before any other procedure is performed as they may affect the results or compromise the safety of the patient.
• Occluding or excessive wax, blood, discharge, perforations, foreign bodies, abrasions and bruising, post-operative ears, and pain are contra-indications to most audiological test procedures and some rehabilitation procedures.
• Therefore it is unsafe to proceed with any procedure without an otoscopic examination first.
• Contraindications to otoscopy itself= excessive pain and lack of consent

Question 5

Normal Eardrum - References

Answer 5

 Pearly-grey appearance
 Handle of Malleus, sometimes flushed
 Light reflex at approx:
• 5 o’clock RT ear,
• 7 o’clock LT ear
 Look for any abnormalities