How to determine if the tympanic membrane is retracted

The eardrum is a very important part of our ear and plays an important role. If the eardrum is sunken, it can easily lead to hearing problems. Therefore, once the tympanic membrane retracts, it is necessary to promptly check and diagnose it and take timely measures. So how do you determine if the tympanic membrane is retracted? Please see the detailed introduction below.

Swallowing test

1. Place the olive heads at both ends of the stethoscope tube at the external auditory canal openings of the subject and the examiner respectively, and then ask the subject to swallow. When the Eustachian tube functions normally, the examiner can hear a "hushing" sound.

2. Ask the subject to swallow and observe the eardrum. If the eardrum moves outward with the swallowing action, it indicates normal function.

Pinch nose and close mouth exhalation method

The subject presses both sides of the nostrils with his fingers, closes his upper and lower lips and exhales forcefully. If the Eustachian tube is unobstructed, the exhaled gas will rush into the tympanic cavity through the nasopharynx and the pharyngeal openings of the Eustachian tubes on both sides. The examiner can hear the vibration of the eardrum through the stethoscope tube or see the eardrum moving outward.

Catheter inflation

1. The nasal cavity is constricted and anesthetized with 1% ephedrine and 1% dicaine. The examiner holds the end of the catheter with the front curved part facing downward, inserts it into the anterior nostril, and slowly extends it into the nasopharynx along the bottom of the nose.

2. When the front end of the catheter reaches the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, rotate the catheter 90 degrees toward the examined side and slowly withdraw it slightly outward. At this time, the front end of the catheter passes over the Eustachian tube occipital and falls into the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube.

3. Rotate the catheter upward and outward about 45 degrees, fix the catheter with your left hand, and use your right hand to aim the rubber ball at the opening at the end of the catheter and blow air several times. At the same time, listen to the stethoscope through the stethoscope to determine whether the Eustachian tube is unobstructed.

This article discusses three methods for determining whether the eardrum is retracted. If you are a person who suspects that you have a retracted eardrum, then you'd better actively adopt the three methods mentioned in this article to determine whether your eardrum is retracted. Only by actively treating it after the diagnosis can you avoid major problems that affect our hearing.

When the Eustachian tube is dysfunctional, outside air cannot enter the middle ear, and the original gas in the middle ear cavity is gradually absorbed, forming a relative negative pressure in the cavity, causing the normal structure of the eardrum to change, resulting in a state called eardrum retraction.

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[Typical symptoms]

The clinical manifestations may vary depending on the primary disease, generally including ear fullness, tinnitus, hearing loss, and enhanced self-hearing.

[Diagnosis basis]

The diagnosis can be made based on the findings of the ear endoscopy, with the focus on determining the cause.