Otoscope Tips

The Pedia Pals otoscope attachment is a high-quality product that is eye-catching and will reduce the anxiety of any pediatric patient. In addition, it's easy to install and use with minimal discomfort.

Pedia Pals is always looking for innovative ways to create products that make a difference. Our new otoscope attachment is designed to offer an improved experience for children with an additional visual cue. Join us in supporting children with this purchase!

Now let’s learn how essential otoscopes and making children comfortable in an ear examination are.

What is an Otoscope and How Does it Actually Work?

An otoscope is a medical tool used to examine the ear or any other part of the human body through its external auditory canal. The device consists of a light source, an eyepiece, and an instrument for examining the ear canal.

The otoscope was first used in the late 1800s by doctors to inspect ears without having to remove them. It has evolved throughout the years and now has better magnification, a more comprehensive focus range, and higher resolution. As a result, this device is a great tool not only for doctors but also for parents with young children who are prone to ear infections.

Albrecht Von Haller created the otoscope in 1760. It was initially developed to be used in the medical field, but we now use it to examine our ears and find out things like whether there are any visible signs of problems or not.

The otoscope device is among the most used medical equipment in ear examinations. While examining the patient's ear, these devices are used to see and examine the inner structure of the ear canal. Otoscope devices are valuable equipment thanks to their portable and easily protected system. At the same time, since it provides a magnification feature, it allows the points that need to be examined in the patient's ear canal to be easily seen. Apart from this, otoscope devices combined with different components are a device that can provide clear images thanks to the possibility of self-illumination.

How to Choose which Otoscope Tips are Best for Your Pediatric Clinic?

Know How to Choose the Best Otoscope Tips!

The best otoscope tips for your pediatric clinic would depend on the type of otoscope you are using. With a variety of options available, it can be difficult to choose the best one for your practice. However, it is important to ensure that the tips you use are safe and effective.

The following are some guidelines that can help you choose the best otoscope tips:

- The size of your pediatric clinic - The age and size of your patients - The type of examination being performed - The age group you work with

In Which Situations Is Otoscope Used?

Situations, where an otoscope should be used come up during ear examination. With these devices, which are portable and easy to use, the practitioner can easily view the patient's ear canal. The Otoscope, one of the most used medical equipment by doctors as an inexpensive examination tool, is generally used in the following situations:

• Examination of the patient's ear
• To learn and examine the current state of the patient's ear canal
• Examination of the ear cartilage structure
• Examination starting from the ear canal to its inner structure
• Eardrum check
• Checking the patient's eardrum light reflex
• Examination of the anatomical structure of the patient's ear

Otoscope devices should be used in applications for such medical examination and information. Otoscopes are generally one of the most used medical equipment by ENT doctors. Otoscope devices are divided into two wall and table types.

How to Use Otoscope?

The use of an otoscope is carried out by holding it towards the inside of the ear in ear examinations. In this examination technique, called otoscopic examination, the patient is usually not asked to stand up and is seated in a suitable chair. The patient's head is slightly tilted towards the opposite shoulder. After the position is taken in this way, the otoscopic examination process proceeds as follows:

• The patient's head is slightly tilted in the opposite direction of the ear to be checked.
• The patient is facing the other way until their profile disappears.
• The appropriate ear spectrum is selected and placed in the outer ear canal.
• Then, the ear's canal structure and cartilage structure can be examined with the otoscope device.

In this way, examinations made using the otoscope device give results quickly. In addition, since otoscopic examinations are painless and painless, patients can complete the assessment in a short time. In this process, it will be more beneficial for the patient to sit instead of standing.

The technique of examination with otoscope:

 The first step of the otoscopic examination with otoscopes is to position the patient and fix the head: Otoscopic examination is usually performed while the patient is sitting. The patient's head is tilted towards the opposite shoulder, and the patient's head is turned to the opposite side (to the left when looking at the right ear and to the right when looking at the left ear) until the profile disappears. The patient's head must be resting against the head of the chair or the wall (this is the basic principle not only for otoscopic examination but also for other examination methods). In this way, accidents that may arise from the sudden movement of the patient during the examination can be minimized. Especially in small children, during the otoscope examination, the head should be pressed firmly against the mother's chest, if possible, by the mother. During the otoscopic examination, the physician should stand to the patient's right.

 The second step of the otoscope examination is the selection of the appropriate ear speculum and its placement in the external auditory canal. As we mentioned above, there are ear speculums of various sizes, and as the diameter of the part of the speculum that enters the external auditory canal gets smaller, its length increases. The purpose of the ear speculum is to ensure that the otoscope is placed in the external auditory canal and directed towards the eardrum. Therefore, the ear speculum doesn't need to be small and long enough to penetrate deep into the external auditory canal. Conversely, long and small speculums are more likely to injure the bony part of the external auditory canal; Also, a narrow speculum limits the physician's field of view.

For this reason, the practitioner should start the otoscopic examination with the larges diameter speculum that can enter the patient's external auditory canal. While the speculum is placed in the external auditory canal, the practitioner should ensure that the speculum and cartilage external auditory canal are positioned so the eardrum can be seen by pulling the auricle simultaneously. The practitioner should not rush this procedure, and the speculum should be inserted carefully by looking through the otoscope rather than placing it first and then looking. The pinna should be pulled upwards to remove the convexity at the base of the external auditory canal and backward to remove the anterior convexity. However, it is impossible to accurately predict the axis between the cartilage and bone parts of the external auditory canal, especially in children, since the development of the external auditory canal and adjacent bone structures is not completed. When placing the speculum in children, it must be looked through the otoscope, and after the scoop is pulled slightly outward (laterally) and backward, it should be moved up or down to find the position where the eardrum is fully visible. During this procedure, the dominant hand (usually the right) should use the otoscope, while the other hand (usually the left) should pull the pinna. The physician standing to the right of the patient, after completing the examination of the right ear, should turn the patient's head to the right as we mentioned above, and pull the auricle by moving his left hand over the patient's head in order to examine the left ear. The otoscope should still be in the right hand (dominant hand). The most common mistake made by physicians with insufficient experience is when it comes to the examination of the left ear, they try to pull the auricle with the right hand while holding the otoscope with their left hand. In this case, it is difficult for the physician to control the otoscope with his left hand.

Another point to be considered while performing an otoscopic examination is that there is no light source behind or next to the patient that will disturb the physician's eyes.

Otoscope Tips for Children Ear Examinations

Otoscope tips for children are designed to help children understand the process of getting their ears checked. They can be helpful in providing comfort and reassurance to children while they undergo ear examinations.

1. Make sure that the child is comfortable and calm before beginning the examination.
2. Have a child sit on your lap or on a chair next to you, but not directly in front of you if you're using an otoscope with a light
3. Ask them if they have any questions about what's going on and then answer them as best as you can 4. If there's still no response, ask them if they want to see anything else 5. Once all of this has been done, put the otoscope back in its case without touching it and then remove your hands from around their head . Let them sit for a moment before you say anything
4. Wait for them to respond and then thank them for their time. Make them relax and complete the ear examination.

How Otoscopes Can Help with 5 Amazing Use Cases

Otoscopes are an ear examination devices that can help with five fantastic use cases.

1. Otoscopes can detect hearing loss
2. Otoscopes can help people with tinnitus
3. Otoscopes can help people with Ménière's Disease
4. Otoscopes provide information about the inner ear and ear infections
5. Otoscopes are used to test for balance disorders and vestibular disorders