To inspect the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane, use which tool?

To inspect the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane, use which tool?

• A. Otoscope
• B. Audiometer
• C. Tympanometer
• D. Acoustic reflectometer

Answer: (A)

To inspect the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane, use an otoscope. It’s designed with a small cone that fits into the ear canal and a bright light to illuminate the canal and the tympanic membrane, allowing you to directly visualize the canal walls, the tympanic membrane’s color and integrity, and any blockage or perforation. The other tools serve different purposes: an audiometer tests hearing thresholds without viewing the ear, a tympanometer measures middle-ear pressure and membrane mobility rather than providing a visual view, and an acoustic reflectometer assesses ear function through sound reflections without direct visualization.

To inspect the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane, use an otoscope. It’s designed with a small cone that fits into the ear canal and a bright light to illuminate the canal and the tympanic membrane, allowing you to directly visualize the canal walls, the tympanic membrane’s color and integrity, and any blockage or perforation. The other tools serve different purposes: an audiometer tests hearing thresholds without viewing the ear, a tympanometer measures middle-ear pressure and membrane mobility rather than providing a visual view, and an acoustic reflectometer assesses ear function through sound reflections without direct visualization.