The pneumatic otoscope

Otoscope

thumb|right|200px|Otoscope - Image of an otoscope thumb|200px|Anatomy of the human ear.thumb|200px|Right tympanic membrane as seen through a speculum.An Otoscope or auriscope is a medical device which is used to look into the ears...

is the standard tool used in diagnosing otitis media

Otitis media

Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear, or a middle ear infection.It occurs in the area between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache,...

. In addition to the pneumatic (diagnostic) head, a surgical head also is useful. The pneumatic head contains a lens, an enclosed light source, and a nipple for attachment of a rubber bulb and tubing. The head is designed so that when a speculum is attached and fitted snugly into the patient’s external auditory canal, an air-tight chamber is produced. In some cases, the addition of a small sleeve of rubber tubing at the end of the plastic speculum or use of a rubber-tipped speculum helps to avoid trauma and improve the air-tight seal.1 Gently squeezing and releasing the rubber bulb in rapid succession permits observation of the degree of eardrum mobility in response to both positive and negative pressure.