Health complaints and complications of sensitive sensory organs can be taken care of with special interventions that involve the least possible stress for the patient. Otoscopy or ear surgery is one of these so-called minimally invasive procedures.
What is otoscopy?
Otoscopy can be used to examine diseases of the ear or hearing (e.g., otitis externa), foreign bodies or parasitic infestations of the external auditory canal, and complaints of the eardrum. It is usually performed by the ENT physician as the first examination for hearing problems. Otoscopy, which is the correct medical name for ear endoscopy, makes it possible for the treating physician to see deep into the ear canal. During otoscopy, the specialist (ENT physician) can also examine the eardrum. Through the otoscopy, which is not painful, it is possible to make an appropriate diagnosis of the hearing with a tool called an otoscope. With this device it is also feasible to remove foreign bodies from the ear. Otoscopy further serves as a prerequisite for the removal of stubborn earwax.
Function, effect and goals
Otoscopy is a hands-on procedure that ear, nose and throat specialists specialize in. It is a matter of ear speculation being a conventional procedure that has gained a firm status as a standard examination. The unique design of the otoscope, with its narrow funnel-shaped opening and integrated illumination, ensures good detection of abnormalities in the ear canal and eardrum. In addition, the otoscope has a built-in magnifying device, which further improves the visualization of the inside of the ear. The use of otoscopy is of great importance in the diagnosis of diseases of the inner ear and the eardrum. Thus, with an otoscopy, typical pathological changes of the eardrum can be perceived, which are evaluated as clear indications of pathological processes. If there is a fluid behind the eardrum or if the eardrum shows a change in shape, an inflammation of the middle ear or a tympanic effusion may be present. Mechanical impact or pressure can cause damage to the structure of the eardrum. These are discovered during an otoscopy. A perforation (rupture) of the eardrum or a plug of earwax can massively affect hearing and are diagnosed by an otoscopy. An otoscopy is also a practical medical examination that is easy to perform and can also reveal tissue growths in the ear canal or scarring changes in the eardrum. As a rule, otoscopy is not painful. If a pathological impairment of the ear has existed for a long time, the manipulation of the outer ear by inserting the funnel may cause pain. The physician applies gentle traction to the pinna of the ear, causing the ear canal to straighten temporarily. Otoscopy is appropriate when there are symptoms of decreased hearing, permanent noise in the ears, and ear pain. These can be caused not only by an inflammation, but equally by an abscess in the inner ear or on the eardrum. Professional hearing aid acousticians who make highly sensitive hearing aids for hearing-impaired people must also be able to handle an otoscope in order to map the condition of the outer ear by means of an otoscopy. These anatomical shapes form the basis for the production of so-called otoplastics. These, in turn, serve as the basis for hearing aids and can obtain their particularly precise fitting properties through otoscopy. A further development of otoscopy is the use of an ear microscope. With this device, an otoscopy can be performed much more precisely and even more informative. Ear microscopes are characterized, for example, by a higher contrast richness and by a much better sharpness, which makes even the smallest changes recognizable. In addition to ear microscopes, most medical professionals currently use video-based otoscopes. These record an image of the external auditory canal and the eardrum directly on the monitor during otoscopy.These imaging technologies also allow for individually adjustable magnifications to see even the tiniest details.
Risks and dangers
Otoscopy is a method that does not involve any risks. Only children do not like it when the doctor goes into the ear with an otoscope and wants to do an otoscopy. Newborn babies are examined during an otoscopy as a precautionary measure in order to diagnose pathological changes in time. For this reason, pediatricians also work with the procedure of otoscopy.
