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Position of otoscope for ear exam

An ear exam can find problems in the ear canal, eardrum, and the middle ear. During an ear exam, a tool called an otoscope is used to look at the outer ear canal and eardrum. The otoscope has a light, a magnifying lens, and a funnel-shaped viewing piece with a narrow, pointed end called a speculum.

The doctor holds the otoscope in one hand and uses his or her free hand to pull the outer ear gently up and back. This straightens the ear canal and helps the doctor see inside the ear. In babies younger than 12 months, the doctor will gently pull the outer ear down and back.

If you are doing a home ear exam with an otoscope, be sure to look into the otoscope before you move it forward. Make sure you can see the path of the ear canal. You do not need to insert the viewing piece very far into the ear. Angle the tip of the viewing piece slightly toward the person's nose to follow the normal path of the canal. While you look through the otoscope, move it gently at different angles so that you can see the ear canal walls and the eardrum. Stop at any sign of increased pain.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Last Revised	January 13, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 13, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.