Have access already?

Get access to this chapter:

Or get access to the entire book:

Focus
  PreviousNext  

14: Assessment of the Ears

Archived books are not available for searching.
DOI:

10.1891/9780826161789.0014

Abstract

Assessment of the ears is an essential skill for the pediatric health care provider to possess. Important skills include obtaining a thorough history; an age-appropriate physical examination of the external ear, external auditory canal, and tympanic membrane; and the ability to perform an efficient and accurate otoscopic examination. Familiarity with age-appropriate receptive and expressive language milestones, and risk factors for and signs and symptoms of hearing loss are necessary for early identification of hearing loss in infants and children. This chapter helps the learners to identify normal anatomic landmarks of the external and middle ear and to examine the external and middle ear and distinguish normal and abnormal findings. It also helps the learners to discuss normal receptive and expressive language milestones in children, from birth through adolescence and to recognize risk factors for and signs of hearing loss in infants, children, and adolescents.