Diagnosing otitis media

Otitis media can be diagnosed by a careful examination, symptom survey and possibly a few tests. Your doctor will use an instrument called an otoscope to inspect the ear for redness and/or fluid behind the eardrum.

Sometimes this may be difficult in children who have small ear canals and eardrums, earwax or other debris in the ear. This difficulty can be compounded if a child is uncooperative or emotionally upset, which can cause the face and eardrums to turn red.

Several tests can help your doctor determine whether or not otitis media or otitis media with effusion is present. By measuring the amount of air pressure in the middle ear, a tympanogram demonstrates how freely the eardrum can move and how well the Eustachian tube is functioning.

Another test uses an acoustic otoscope (or reflectometer) to detect fluid in the middle ear. If hearing loss is suspected, an audiogram is an important tool to test hearing. Since hearing loss associated with otitis media can sometimes become permanent, it is important to seek testing and treatment without delay.

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