An ear exam can find problems in the ear canal, eardrum, and the
middle ear. During an ear exam, a tool called an otoscope is
used to look at the outer ear canal and eardrum. The otoscope
has a light, a magnifying lens, and a funnel-shaped viewing
piece with a narrow, pointed end called a speculum. The doctor
holds the otoscope in one hand and uses his or her free hand to
pull the outer ear gently up and back. This straightens the ear
canal and helps the doctor see inside the ear. In babies younger
than 12 months, the doctor will gently pull the outer ear down
and back. Some young children have frequent ear infections and
earaches. Parents of these children can be trained by their
doctor to do home ear examinations. If you are doing a home ear
exam with an otoscope, be sure to look into the otoscope before
you move it forward. Make sure you can see the path of the ear
canal. You do not need to insert the viewing piece very far into
the ear. Angle the tip of the viewing piece slightly toward the
person's nose