3.Discuss normal findings and what may be occurring if tenderness is present during the ear exam.

The normal findings of ear assessment goes with the following :

o Positioned centrally and in proportion to the head

o Skin Flesh color is alike throughout the body.

o No redness, swelling, tenderness, lesions, drainage, foreign bodies

o Equal Hearings on both ears.

o Both ears can hear carefully.

o Tympanic membrane is pearly gray with well-defined landmarks

o Light reflex present at 5 o'clock in right ear and 7 o'clock in left ear

o Tympanic membrane moves when the patient blows against resistance.

External Ear and canal: no inflamation, lesions or drainage. Some grey-brown cerumen may be present.

Tympanic membrane: Intact, pearly grey, no bulging, bleeding, retraction, or lesions

• Malleus: dense whitish streak originating from the superior hemisphere of the tympanic membrane
Weber test

• Normal finding: able to hear sound equally in both ears

Rinne test

• Normal finding: air conduction > bone conduction

Furthermore, the tenderness in the external auditory canal caused by traction on the auricle (online
Figure A) or pressure on the tragus (online Figure B) indicates an otitis externa condition ( John W. Ely,
MD et al 2008).