Many online stores including Amazon sell different models of digital otoscopes that can be purchased
for around $20-$75.
Depending on the model, it can come with its own monitor or a cable that can connect to
a smartphone or computer.
Regardless of the model, they all come with small instruments which can be used to try
and remove earwax at home under visual guidance.
The model we are going to demonstrate with is one that can connect to a smartphone made
by AnyKit.
Digital otoscopes have a fixed focal length of about 2-3 cm so if the camera is positioned
too far away, the video image will go out-of-focus as you can see here.
The diameter of the camera itself is about 4 mm with a viewing angle of 70 degrees and
a depth of field of 20-30mm.
Make sure you orient the camera so that you know which way is up.
Before use, attach the adapter.
Gently pull the ear backwards to straighten the ear canal.
SLOWLY and gently insert the camera into the ear canal.
All movement should be slow and gentle.
If the image is off-center, tilt the camera angle to re-center.
As you can see, this child has earwax debris present in the ear canal.
In the distance, you can also see the eardrum.
To remove earwax, the adapter is removed and an earwax removal tool is selected to attach
to the handpiece.
After inserting into the ear canal, there are a couple things to keep in mind.
Removing earwax with a digital otoscope is moderately difficult due to the counter-intuitive
nature of hand movements with tool movements on the screen.
If you are not very good at playing video games, earwax removal with a digital otoscope
may not be easy or even possible for most individuals.
To reiterate, movements you make with your hand will NOT correspond to what you see on
the screen.
To determine which movements correlate with left, right, up, and down on the screen, make
tiny movements up and down, forward and backwards . If necessary, rotate either the handpiece
or the tool in order to orient the tool tip in such a way to make it as easy as possible
to remove the earwax debris.
Once you figure out what movements results in the corresponding action on the screen,
slowly and gently move towards the earwax.
The screen does not provide depth perception, so the best thing is to deliberately move
past the earwax with the instrument first, before attempting removal.
With attempted removal, keep in mind that the ear canal skin is very sensitive, so only
the most gentle if any pressure should be used to remove the earwax, otherwise it will
be painful.
Here a different earwax removal tip is used.
It is always best to use the appropriate tool that will most easily remove the earwax with
the least effort and discomfort.
Of course, earwax can be removed professionally under the microscope which provides both depth
perception as well as movements that correlate with what one sees.
Alternatively, ear flushing can easily be performed at home followed by a relook with
the digital otoscope to make sure all the earwax has been removed.