Ear, Nose and Throat Examination

System/Body Area :  Constitutional

Elements of Examination : 

• Measurement of any three of the following seven vital signs: 1) sitting or standing blood pressure, 2) supine blood pressure, 3) pulse rate and regularity, 4) respiration, 5) temperature, 6) height, 7) weight (May be measured and recorded by ancillary staff) 
• General appearance of patient (eg, development, nutrition, body habitus, deformities, attention to grooming)
•  Assessment of ability to communicate (eg, use of sign language or other communication aids) and quality of voice 

System/Body Area :  Head and Face

Elements of Examination : 

• Inspection of head and face (eg, overall appearance, scars, lesions and masses) 
• Palpation and/or percussion of face with notation of presence or absence of sinus tenderness Examination of salivary glands 
• Assessment of facial strength 

System/Body Area :  Eyes

Elements of Examination : Test ocular motility including primary gaze alignment 

System/Body Area :  Ears, Nose, Mouth and Throat

 

Elements of Examination : 

• Otoscopic examination of external auditory canals and tympanic membranes including pneumo-otoscopy with notation of mobility of membranes 
• Assessment of hearing with tuning forks and clinical speech reception thresholds (eg, whispered voice, finger rub) 
• External inspection of ears and nose (eg, overall appearance, scars, lesions and masses) 
• Inspection of nasal mucosa, septum and turbinates 
• Inspection of lips, teeth and gums 
• Examination of oropharynx: oral mucosa, hard and soft palates, tongue, tonsils and posterior pharynx (eg, asymmetry, lesions, hydration of mucosal surfaces) 
• Inspection of pharyngeal walls and pyriform sinuses (eg, pooling of saliva, asymmetry, lesions) Examination by mirror of larynx including the condition of the epiglottis, false vocal cords, true vocal cords and mobility of larynx (Use of mirror not required in children) 
• Examination by mirror of nasopharynx including appearance of the mucosa, adenoids, posterior choanae and eustachian tubes (Use of mirror not required in children) 

System/Body Area :  Neck 

 

Elements of Examination : 

• Examination of neck (eg, masses, overall appearance, symmetry, tracheal position, crepitus) Examination of thyroid (eg, enlargement, tenderness, mass)