What should you know about rigid otoscope?

The device has a firm shaft and a small viewing tip, with light directed into the ear. During an examination, the clinician checks the ear canal for wax, swelling, discharge or a foreign object, then looks at the eardrum for colour, position and movement when appropriate. The view can help explain ear pain, reduced hearing, itching or discharge, but an otoscope does not measure hearing itself. A clear-looking ear does not exclude every cause of hearing or balance symptoms.

You usually do not need special preparation. Tell the clinician about pain, recent water exposure, previous ear surgery, hearing devices and any attempt to remove wax. Keep cotton buds and other objects out of the ear because they can push wax deeper or injure the canal. Children may need a calm position and a brief explanation before the tip is placed. The examination is commonly included in a GP consultation or child health consultation when symptoms suggest an ear problem.

Seek prompt medical care for sudden hearing loss, severe ear pain with swelling behind the ear, blood or pus from the ear, a suspected foreign object, or dizziness with new neurological symptoms. A feverish child who is unusually sleepy, difficult to settle or drinking very little also needs urgent assessment. Do not try to retrieve a lodged object or irrigate an ear if the eardrum may be damaged.

Ask what was visible in the canal and at the eardrum, whether wax is blocking the view, whether hearing testing is needed, and which drops or cleaning method is safe for you. Ask how quickly to return if pain, discharge or hearing changes continue.