General

Synonym/Acronym:
Ear examination.

Rationale
To visualize and assess internal and external structures of the ear to evaluate for pain or hearing loss.

Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.

Normal Findings

• Normal structure and appearance of the external ear, auditory canal, and tympanic membrane.
  • Pinna: Funnel-shaped cartilaginous structure; no evidence of infection, pain, dermatitis with swelling, redness, or itching
  • External Auditory Canal: S-shaped canal lined with fine hairs, sebaceous and ceruminous glands; no evidence of redness, lesions, edema, scaliness, pain, accumulation of cerumen, drainage, or presence of foreign bodies
  • Tympanic Membrane: Shallow, circular cone that is shiny and pearl gray in color, semitransparent whitish cord crossing from front to back just under the upper edge, cone of light on the right side at the 4 o’clock position; no evidence of bulging, retraction, lusterless membrane, or obliteration of the cone of light

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A