How To Use Otoscopes To Check Your Child For Ear Infections

Does your child suffer from ear infections often? You might be visiting your doctor often and spending time and money. But the good news is that you can conduct an at-home inspection to identify ear infections in your child. You can practice at home inspection, but make sure you avoid it if your child’s ear has pus or blood is coming from the ear or if the skin near the ear hole is swollen.

If your child’s condition is not severe then you can perform at home inspection using an otoscope. In this post, we will guide you on how to properly use an otoscope to examine your child for ear infections at home.

What is an Otoscope?

An otoscope is a medical device that is used by doctors to see inside the ear. If you are not a doctor, still you can use an otoscope at home, but only if you know the correct way to do it. It is because an otoscope is not as simple as placing an earbud into your child’s ear.

The otoscope is equipped with numerous pointed tips known as specula. The speculum varies in size and dimensions. Since you are using an otoscope to examine your child’s ear, you must therefore select one that is slightly smaller than your child’s ear. If the ear hole is extremely small then avoid performing at home inspection.

History of Otoscopes

The first even known ear speculum is traced back to a French surgeon and physician, Guy de Chaulia. He described the vision for the instrument in France in 1363. But till date, the models of the device were not developed till German Surgeon, Wilhelm Fabry and J.J. Perret crafted prototypes in the mid-1600 and 1600 respectively. At this time, the otoscope has a shape similar to a pair of tongs, which is presently the preferred shape for nasal speculums.

The invention of modern otoscope began in the mid-19th century in Germany. During that time, Wilhelm Kramer, a German Otologist introduced a steel aural speculum with a different funnel shape that expanded when he separated the two handles of the otoscope. At this time, the doctor gave his invention his name Kramer’s Speculum.

Throughout this time, the doctors used this funnel-shaped otoscope. However, in 1838, an Austrian practitioner, Ignaz Gruber created the first funnel-shaped speculum from metal. This speculum gained immense popularity because of its conical shape and simple design that made it extremely easy to use.

Based on the similar style, some otoscopes even exist today like the one developed in 1881 by A. Hartmann in Berlin. Even if you look at the standard otoscope from Welch Allyn, you will find its shape and design holds close resemblance to the Hartmann otoscope. The bell-shaped otoscope came to be known as the Hartmann Speculum.

In the present scenario, as with everything within the medical realm, the otoscope has evolved and become much more compact, lightweight, and high-tech. The modern otoscopes available today are equipped with numerous features and parts that deliver the best optics, adequate lights, enhanced magnifiers, adjustable focus, and more.

Even, there are some highly advanced otoscope models available that offer an almost complete view of the tympanic membrane and possess 30% more magnification than the conventional styles.

Risk Factors for Ear Infections in Children

Since an otoscope is used to examine the ear infection, so it is essential for parents to know about some of the possible reasons for the development of an ear infection. Some of the common reasons for middle ear infection in children are:

Day-Care Visits – Children who go to daycare, especially as infants are more likely to experience ear infections. The chances are higher if daycare is smaller because it gives less biological exposure to the child.
Colds – On average, a child suffers from 6-9 colds in a year, any one of which can set a stage for the middle ear infection. It is therefore essential to prevent your child from colds, which will further prevent ear infections. But if it is not possible to prevent your child from colds then it is best to practice adequate measures for the same.
Smoke / Pollution – Exposure to pollution and smoke from cigarettes or burning fireplaces can make a kid more prone to ear infections.
Allergies – Just like smoke and colds, allergies too can set the stage for an infection in the middle ear. It is because they contribute to stagnant fluid production in the middle ear or they may clog the Eustachian tubes. In this case, it is best to identify the particular allergens.
Poor Hygiene – Most of the times, ear infection occurs because of viruses entering into the body through the nose or when a child rubs his eyes with dirty hands. As parents, you must make efforts to promote handwashing among the kids, discourage eye rubbing or nose picking so that there is less viral exposure.
Pacifiers – If your child sucks pacifiers for a long time then this creates negative pressure on the ear. It is of utmost importance that the ear pressure equalizes to the external atmosphere. Try to limit the use of a pacifier and use it for short-time during bedtime or naps.
Adenoids – Children with obstructive and large adenoids have a nasal quality voice and those who snore like lumberjacks have a higher tendency to experience an ear infection. Alternatively, if your child has big tonsils then consider this as a risk for ear infection.
Family History – If both parents have a history of middle ear infections as a child then might be their kids may also experience a similar problem.
Bottles at the Night-Time – Babies who fed on bottles have higher chances of meeting ear infections as compared to breastfed babies. It is because breastfeeding is rich in disease-preventing immunoglobulin. Hence, keep your baby away from this risk and avoid feeding them with a bottle.

When Should You Use an Otoscope?

You can use an otoscope or practice otoscopy at home if you notice the following symptoms in your child:

Pain in the ear
Infection or irritation in the ear
Loss of hearing
Ringing sound in the ears
Any ear-related infection or symptom

With the help of an otoscope, you can diagnose the ear and see if the infection is mild or severe. Moreover, you can check the working condition of the ear.

How to Use an Otoscope?

Once you find the right size of specula, you must clean it and fit it well to the viewing end of this device. After this, switch on the instrument’s light.

If your kid is older than 12 months, you must pull out the ear gently to straighten the ear canal. This will make it much easier to view inside the ear.

Now, hold the handle of the otoscope with your finger outstretched. When you place the instrument into the ear canal, you have to move the specula easily into the child’s ear. But make sure you don’t go too far inside the ear canal as it may hurt your child.

The ear canal is extremely sensitive. Hence, avoid putting too much pressure on the instrument. Gently move the otoscope until you are able to view the eardrum. Angle the viewing piece correctly slightly towards the nose of your child so that it follows the normal angle of the canal.

Tips to Use Otoscopes Effectively and Easily

There are a few things that you must consider while using an otoscope.

Whether you are using it for a kid or an adult, the ear is extremely sensitive. Hence, avoid being rough.
When you are using otoscope for children then they may tend to turn heads or wriggle. So you have to be attentive so that you don’t hurt the ear.
It is best to pre-inform your child about what you are doing. Also, let her tell you if it is hurting you.
The ear canal is not straight. Therefore, you have to move the outer ear as well as the otoscope a few times to line it precisely and view inside. It can be achieved only with practice.
Before you move ahead using the otoscope on a child, you must practice it first using on a healthy adult.

Are There Any Risks Associated With Using Otoscopes?

The good thing is that there is a very few risks associated with an ear examination. The most important thing that you must take into account is to always change the tip of the otoscope or clean it properly after the examination. Using a dirty or already used tip can spread infection from one ear to the other.

What do the Test Results Imply?

Usually, the ear canal has a color similar to your skin while the eardrum has a pearly white or light gray color. The light must reflect back of a healthy eardrum. Also, you may see some brown or yellow earwax that is not harmful. If your child’s eardrum and ear canal appear healthy, most likely he is free from an ear infection.

However, if one or more of the below-mentioned symptoms are witnessed during an examination, then most probably he has an ear infection:

Swelling
Pus
Redness
Amber liquid

Besides these symptoms, another indicator of having an ear infection is when the light does not reflect off your child’s eardrum. It is mainly because of the presence of fluid in the ear that gets accumulated over time.

Care and Maintenance of Your Otoscope

An otoscope can provide you with years of reliable service only if it is maintained and handled properly. Storage and cleaning are critical to ensure that your device will work reliably for years.

Here consider some of the important points in order to maintain and clean your otoscope.

You must always clean the exterior surface of your otoscope with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution. Once the solution is prepared, soak it in a lint-free cloth. Gently wipe down the exterior of the handle and head, and clean all the external surface areas. Take adequate care to prevent excess liquid from seeping into the otoscope components.
If you don’t have isopropyl solution available you, then you can substitute it with commonly used and registered hospital disinfectant wipes. Do refer to the directions provided by the manufacturer for correct usability and to ensure that your otoscope does not get damaged.
Avoid applying the cleaning residue on the magnifying lens as it may reduce visibility. Hence, excess cleaning fluids must be wiped completely using a lens paper or a lint-free cloth.
You cannot sterilize your otoscope, neither you can submerge it into liquids. Avoid practicing other sterilization methods for your otoscope.
If you are using disposable specula then it must not only be cleaned or disinfected using any methods. Disposable specula are meant for only single patient use and must be discarded after use.
If you are storing your otoscope for an extended time period then it is suggested that you remove the batteries from the battery handle. Also, do store the otoscope in its case so as to prevent contamination of debris and dust and have an unobstructed view during the examinations.

How to Pick the Right Otoscope?

Otoscopes are ubiquitous in the medical sector, almost like a stethoscope. Hence, it is essential to select the right one, especially when you are using it at home for your children.

Make sure you purchase an otoscope that is easy to use and comes with different sizes of specula. Pick an otoscope having separate specula for the children, adults, and infants.

Further, otoscopes are available in different sizes and for different patients. So, if you will be using the otoscope only for your infant or children then you can pick a pediatric otoscope. No matter which type you pick, it is essential that you select a professional-grade one possessing high standard.

Finally, consider your needs and budget and then pick an otoscope accordingly.

There are different kinds of infections that can affect an ear. If you find even a small sign of infection in the ear, you must consult your doctor immediately and seek adequate medical assistance.