Below is a summary of the steps conducted during an examination of the ear.

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• Inspection of pinna and its surrounds bilaterally (check behind the ear for scars, swellings etc)

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• Palpate pinna, mastoid and tragus bilaterally

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• Inspect external auditory canal bilaterally

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• Examine external auditory canal and tympanic membrane with safe auriscope technique bilaterally

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• Test approximate hearing bilaterally [e.g. whispering numbers]

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• Perform Rinne's test bilaterally

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• Perform Weber's test

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• Thank the patient