Ear Examination

What Affects the Test

Factors that can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results include:

• Earwax, dirt, or an object such as a bean or a bead hiding or blocking the eardrum (tympanic membrane) in the ear canal. Your health professional may need to clean the ear canal before examining the ear.
• Crying. A small child who is upset or crying may have red eardrums. This redness may be confused with an ear infection.
• The inability of some children to sit still during the examination.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: June 27, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
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