The evaluation of ear pain begins with a history and physical exam.

Physical findings in someone with ear pain may include:

• A red, bulging eardrum with fluid in the middle ear:
• Infected middle ear
• Normal eardrum for comparison
• Perforated eardrum
• Fluid behind the eardrum
• Congested nose or sinuses
• Fever
• Ear foreign body
• Ear swelling
• Swollen lymph glands in the neck

Tests that may be used to evaluate ear pain include:

• Audiometry
• Cultures of fluid from the middle ear
• Complete blood count
• Tympanocentesis:
• Surgery to drain the middle ear
• Tympanometry:
• Tests the movement of the eardrum