Michael Rothschild, MD

Video otoscopes have become quite inexpensive, and deliver surprisingly good images. They can also be used in the nose or mouth. Although there are many brands, I have had good results with this BeBird model, which costs around $25.

I made this video several years ago during the COVID pandemic, so it features a different brand of otoscope, and the app instructions may be slightly different for yours. But most of these work by generating a WiFi signal that the phone picks up.

Remember to use video instead of still images, since I am much more likely to get a usable image if I can scan through a number of frames in a short clip, especially if your child is moving. Be careful when placing the tip of the otoscope in the ear canal, and always watch the screen to make sure that you are centered in the ear canal and not touching the walls. Bracing the hand holding the otoscope against the child's head may help avoid pain if they move suddenly.

Finally, even though many of these devices come with attachments which claim to be useful for cleaning out earwax, I do NOT recommend doing this. It is very easy to injury the ear canal, the eardrum or even cause permanent hearing loss (especially with a moving child!).