Doubtless, you will find it useful to have an otoscope available in your home. The best way to practice using your otoscope is with the help of an adult volunteer who has ear canals relatively free of ceruman (ear wax). To see the eardrum, grasp the outer ear. Gently pull backward and slightly upward on the ear (see ear picture below).         

 This will help to straighten the ear canal for the best "line of sight." Gently insert the otoscope while looking into its lens. You will begin to see when structures inside the ear come into focus. The focal length for optimal visualization of the eardrum varies upon the size of the ear canal. The length of the ear canal is variable in each and every person so it is important to watch closely through the lens while inserting the specula tip into the ear canal. This way you will  know the instant your focal length is ideal and thus focus on the eardrum is at it’s best.  (Never pry or force the otoscope into the ear canal).

Most physicians and nurses will tell you the way they learned to do otoscope exams was by practicing on each other back in medical and nursing school. The same holds true in this case. Find some willing adults and start looking into ear canals. Soon you will recognize what is normal. After you mastered the adult exam then you can move on to children and infants. Be patient in the learning process. Included you will also find 3 sizes of specula. It is recommended to begin your exam in adults with the largest diameter specula and move downward in size if needed. In children begin with the smallest diameter specula and move up in size if able.

Ready To Purchase an Otoscope?  Aussie Otoscope has a full range of Otoscopes for use by  Professionals, Students and for those at home.  Click below to see our range.

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You should be aware that it is occasionally impossible to see the eardrum of a small child, or even that of a rare adult, even with the most expensive professional otoscopes. This is because the canal cannot be straightened sufficiently or it is occluded with ceruman (ear wax).

Usually, the view that is attainable is a function of ear canal size, and the presence of ceruman build-up. As a physician of many years experience, I assure you that virtually anything can be seen with our otoscopes that can be seen with the $400 wall mounted Welch Allyn model otoscopes that I use at work.

IMPORTANT: If you normally where glasses or contacts please leave them on while looking through your otoscope. We have had customers contact us saying that they could not see the eardrum because the instrument focused to close to the end of the specula. 98% of the time these were customers who were nearsighted and they had removed their glasses before looking into the lens of the otoscope. Occasionally we have had an issue with a defective lens. It is also important to not hold the otoscope too far away from your eye when looking into it.

If you are having any problem focusing on the eardrum here is a quick and easy way to test to see if the otoscope lens is functioning properly or if the problem is simply user error or an ear canal to difficult to see in to due to earwax, debris, or curvature.

Basically an otoscope is a magnifier and a light whose job it is to focus clearly at approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the tip of the specula. The test below allows you to tell if the otoscope is doing its job correctly.

Using the otoscope to look at newsprint you can quickly tell if there is a possible lens defect causing things to not focus properly. The eardrum is normally around 1 inch away from the entrance to the outer ear in adults and ¾ inch away in small children. When you subtract out the ¼ inch you normally insert the otoscope speculum into the ear canal your focal point should be between ½ and ¾ inches away when you look at the eardrum with the otoscope. You can test if the otoscope is functioning properly by viewing print from a magazine or newspaper and measuring the approximate distance the otoscope tip is away from the print when everything is in clear focus. It should be somewhere between ½-3/4 inch away. The print should also be very clear and not distorted. Please let another member of your family complete the test as well and see if they get a similar result as your test. Please notify us immediately if it appears your otoscope has a lens defect or any other problem.

BOTTOM LINE: If the light is bright and the focus on the newsprint is clear at 1/2-3/4 inch from the tip of the specula then the reason you are not seeing the eardrum clearly while doing an exam is not the fault of the otoscope. There are other factors causing this (i.e. earwax, debris, or ear canal curvature). If the newsprint is blurry or the light dim then there is a defect in the otoscope.

Is it difficult for parents to learn to do ear exams?

This is one of those questions that has two answers....yes and no. The key to doing ear exams is practice. It is important to begin doing otoscope exams on a willing adult as opposed to a child. The ear canals are larger and the eardrum is easier to see in an adult. The key is to look into as many adult ear canals as possible to get a feel for what a normal eardrum looks like. When you visualize an eardrum that is red, has fluid behind it, or is simply abnormal you will quickly recognize this.

The old saying practice makes perfect could not apply more to any situation than it does to doing ear exams.

Always go slow and never ever force or pry the otoscope in an ear canal in any way shape or form. Always look to see what is in front of you through the viewing window of the otoscope before advancing it into an ear canal. Never push the specula tip into the ear canal unless you have a clear view that there is nothing in front of you. It is also a good idea to have someone stabilize the head of a small child or infant since they can and will often jerk their head or pull away when something strange is being inserted into their ear. Again much of this is good old common sense, always remember to go slow and never push or pry with the otoscope.

Realize that in some children and even adults it is impossible to see the eardrum. Some children and even adults have very small ear canals and/or also filled with earwax and debris which make it impossible to see the eardrum. Even as a physician it is impossible to see into some ears.

It is also advisable especially with pediatric exams to get the help of your local pediatrician. Many pediatricians today are very supportive of home ear exams and recognize the value of parents being able to monitor for the earliest signs of ear infection. Pediatricians also recognize the importance of the early recognition of earwax occlusions that can cause hearing loss. If not recognized early this hearing loss can go on to affect the speech development in young children.

Ready to Purchase an Otoscope for Use at Home?  Click below to see our range of Otoscopes priced for those on the move and those at home.

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Will Disposable Specula work with the Dr Mom Otoscopes?

Yes our otoscope works well with most major brands of disposable specula as well as the disposable specula we sell on our website. The key to using disposable specula is learning how they are placed on the otoscope. (Please see the illustration below.)

Using Disposable Specula:  The disposable specula fit into the otoscope head, not over the non-disposable speculum that it ships with. The disposable specula fit VERY snugly into place, some people find it easier to put one side in and push the rest of it in next.  You may find it easier to do this with the otoscope placed on a table with the hole the specula fits into facing you. There is a little ridge inside the otoscope head that the disposable specula slide up against when they are in place.

Using Disposable Specula:  The disposable specula fit into the otoscope head, not over the non-disposable speculum that it ships with. The disposable specula fit VERY snugly into place, some people find it easier to put one side in and push the rest of it in next.  You may find it easier to do this with the otoscope placed on a table with the hole the specula fits into facing you. There is a little ridge inside the otoscope head that the disposable specula slide up against when they are in place.

READY TO PURCHASE DISPOSABLE SPECULA?  AUSSIE OTOSCOPE CARRIES ADULT AND PAEDIATRIC SPECULA IN SLEEVES OF 50 AT VERY COMPETITIVE PRICES.  OUR SPECULA ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OF THE OTOSCOPES ON OUR WEBSITE AND WITH MOST WELCH ALLEN SCOPES. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO PURCHASE DISPOSABLE SPECULA.

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