Otoscopy
The otoscopy (from ancient Greek οὖς US , genitive OTos , German, ear 'and σκοπέω skopeo , see') is the consideration of the external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane . Due to the tightness of the ear canal and the obstruction of vision by hair and protruding structures of the auricle ( tragus ), an ear speculum or an otoscope is required for the examination . When using the simple ear speculum, the doctor also needs a forehead reflector or forehead mirror with which he can direct the light (daylight or lamp light) into the ear speculum.
Otoscopy can diagnose diseases ( otitis externa ), foreign bodies or parasites in the external auditory canal and changes in the eardrum. It is made of ENT - doctor usually performed as the first investigation at hearing.
It is used by hearing aid acousticians to assess the structures of the outer ear in order to be able to manufacture corresponding otoplastics for hearing aids .
history
Friedrich Hofmann, district physician in Burgsteinfurt, described the ear mirror in 1841 with a central opening for lighting and simultaneous viewing of the ear canal and eardrum as well as other hard-to-reach areas of the body.
The ear specula of various sizes that are common today and that are attached to otoscopes were developed in the first half of the 19th century and made famous by Anton von Tröltsch from 1860 onwards.
Individual evidence
- ^ H. Feldmann: From the ear mirror to the eye mirror and back. The intertwined history of their invention and introduction to medical practice. In: Laryngo-Rhino-Otology. 74, 1995, p. 707, doi: 10.1055 / s-2007-997830 .
- ↑ On the history of ear, nose and throat medicine in Würzburg. ( Memento of the original from April 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. University Hospital Würzburg, ENT department
