What should you know about an otoscope inside the ear?

A small tip guides light into the canal while a lens allows the clinician to view the skin, wax, fluid and eardrum. The clinician may gently adjust the outer ear to improve the view; the movement differs for adults and children. A normal-looking view does not explain every cause of ear discomfort, so symptoms and hearing changes remain relevant to the assessment.

Keep your head steady and say if the tip causes pain. Tell the clinician about discharge, recent swimming, objects placed in the ear, or previous ear surgery. Do not attempt to recreate the examination with a pen, cotton bud, or personal device. For a child, a Child Health Consultation can make the assessment more comfortable and age-appropriate.

Arrange care for ear pain that persists, new hearing difficulty, discharge, or a blocked sensation. Seek urgent medical help for sudden hearing loss, intense dizziness, facial weakness, or bleeding following an injury. A GP Consultation can examine the ear and decide whether specialist review is needed.

Ask whether the canal and eardrum were fully visible, whether wax or swelling affected the examination, and what symptoms should be watched. Ask how to protect the ear while it heals if irritation or discharge was found.