Things To Look Out For
Normal Ear Canal and Tympanic Membrane
In this Image we can see a healthy ear canal and an intact
ear drum. there might be small traces of wax around the canal wall which is normal.
We can see the reflection of the light source off the eardrum at the 4 o'clock position, this is often called the cone of light.
We can also see the Malleus, one of the three bones of the middle ear (ossicles) attached to the eardrum from behind, with the head of the Malleus at the two o'clock position on the eardrum.
Non Occluding Wax
In this Image we can see a healthy ear canal and an intact ear drum. there might be small traces of wax around the canal wall which is normal.
We can see the reflection of the light source off the eardrum at the 4 o'clock position, this is often called the cone of light.
We can also see the Malleus, one of the three bones of the middle ear (ossicles) attached to the eardrum from behind, with the head of the Malleus at the two o'clock position on the eardrum.
Occluding Wax
Here we can see the wax is completely blocking the ear,
creating a seal between itself and the canal wall. This can cause issues with your hearing and the feeling of yours ears being 'blocked'.
Perforation (Hole In Eardrum)
In this image we can see there is a hole in the tympanic membrane, leading into the middle ear. This could be caused by blunt trauma, an ear infection or obstructions in the ear canal.
This can cause issues with your hearing and it may also cause issues with recurring infections due to the middle ear being exposed.
It is important to keep the ear dry, and consult your health care professional as soon as possible.
Otitis Externa (Outer Ear Infection)
We can see in this image white discharge caused by an outer
ear infection. It may feel uncomfortable or painful and it may be odorous. It can also cause potential hearing issues and a feeling of fullness.
It is important to see your health care professional if you think you have an ear infection.
Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection)
We can see in this image white discharge caused by an outer ear infection. It may feel uncomfortable or painful and it may be odorous. It can also cause potential hearing issues and a feeling of fullness.
It is important to see your health care professional if you think you have an ear infection.
Cholesteatoma
A cholesteatoma is a growth behind your eardrum. It develops when dead skin cells gather behind your eardrum to form a lump or cyst. It appears as a growth above the ear drum where it meets the ear canal wall at the 12 o'clock position.
If untreated it can damage the internal structures of the ear or cause damage to the bone in the middle ear. It is crucial to seek medical attention if you suspect any signs of a cholesteatoma.