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Ear Infections Diagnosis

Ear Infections: Diagnosis


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1. Pneumatic otoscope

The only diagnostic test, a doctor has to do for an ear infection, is the one with a pneumatic otoscope. This device has a light in it and enables the examination of the outer ear and the eardrum. It also makes it possible to puff slight amounts of air on to the drum. A normal and healthy ear drum will move with this puff. However, if it is filled with liquid and is swollen, there will be barely any movement. Thus, an infection can be easily diagnosed.

2. Acoustic reflectometry

This is another intelligent and indirect way to measure the health and condition of the ear drum. The logic and method used is quite simple. A device is used to emit sounds to the ear drum. The ear drum, in normal cases, absorbs most of the sound waves and reflects very little of it back. However, when there is an infection and the ear drum gets filled with fluids, the absorbing capacity is lost. Most of the sound gets reflected back. Thus, depending on the amount of reflection, the extent of infection can be diagnosed.

3. Tympanometry

Tympanometry is often used to test the functioning of the middle ear. The test is carried out in the following manner. A small and soft plug is put into the ear, at the opening of the hearing canal. This plug has, built-in to it, a speaker, a microphone as well as a device that has the ability to alter the air pressure in the ear. The device then makes all the necessary changes as the patient hears and feels some changes in tones and pressure. With the results of these tests, the condition of the middle ear can be determined. The device seals off the hearing passage and quantifies the movement of the eardrum, thus, providing a measure of the middle ear pressure. Note however, that Tympanometry does not determine how well the patient is able to hear.

4. Tympanocentesis

This is a rarely used test. It is done only in cases when the other diagnostic tools yielded an infection as a result but none of the treatment methods are working. At such times, the doctor makes use of a thin, surgical tube to pierce the middle ear so that a small amount of the oozing liquid can get collected into it. The collected fluid is then tested for infections. This tool helps to isolate and identify the infecting agent – whether it is a virus or bacteria.

5. Audiologist's tests

If a physician fears that there might be some damage to the ear and partial or complete loss of the hearing function, an audiologist may be called in for further diagnosis. The patient is now subjected to a series of audiometric tests. These are done by varying the loudness and tone of a sound and checking the sensitivity of the patient to the different sounds. The loudness of sound is measured in decibels while the tone of the sound is measured in Hertz. A normal ear hears between 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz and can withstand loudness between 20 dB to 85 dB.

6. Examination of the throat and nose

The nose, throat and ears are all linked and that is why we have ENT specialists. A sore throat or a cold can often result in an ear infection. Working back on that, an ear infection will also show as a throat and nose infection. Checking the throat and nose manually with a light can also help to indirectly determine the chances of the ear getting infected.

7. Comprehension and developmental tests

When all diagnostic tests point to a healthy ear and the patient is still unable to comprehend or make sense of the sounds, it could be something other than a hearing disorder. This means that the sound waves are reaching the ear alright but there are errors in translating these waves into meaningful sense. At such times, a battery of comprehension and developmental tests are recommended for the patient.

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