Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, and obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Audiometry (hearing test) – indicated only in prolonged complaints.
- X-ray of the mastoid – if mastoiditis (acute inflammation in the mastoid process (Processus mastoideus) of the temporal bone with bone fusion) is suspected.
- Computed tomography of the skull (cranial CT; cCT; cranial CT) – sectional imaging procedure (X-ray images from different directions with computer-based evaluation), particularly well suited for imaging bony injuries; here: For ear pain of unclear cause[retrospective analysis in 100 patients: 91 of the patients had unilateral pain, 29 suffered from other complaints such as sore throat, hearing loss, headache, dizziness, or tinnitus (ringing in the ears); 47% showed abnormalities on CT, but these explained the ear pain in only 36%:
- 12 of the 17 patients had a dental or TMJ problem, 3 had cervical spinal degeneration, and 2 had an elongated temporal bone styloid process
- Bottom line: if ear pain is unclear, a dental and jaw examination should be performed.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial MRI, cranial MRI or cMRI) – if acoustic neuroma (benign tumor of the auditory and vestibular nerves) is suspected.