What is an expected finding when assessing a child's ears?

An expected finding when assessing a child's ears is that cerumen, or earwax, is present bilaterally. Cerumen is a natural substance produced by the glands in the ear canal, serving several important functions, such as protecting the ear from debris, bacteria, and water, as well as keeping the skin in the ear canal moist. It is common and normal to find cerumen in the ears of children, signifying proper function of the ear glands.

In contrast, other findings may indicate potential abnormalities. For instance, a red tympanic membrane could suggest an ear infection or other pathology. The light reflex, usually seen as a cone of light reflecting from the otoscope, is typically positioned at the 5 o'clock position in the right ear and the 7 o'clock position in the left ear, so a 2 o'clock position could be concerning. Additionally, bone landmarks being invisible may indicate fluid presence behind the eardrum or other conditions affecting ear health, which is not a typical finding in a healthy ear assessment. Therefore, the presence of cerumen bilaterally stands out as a normal and expected observation during a pediatric ear assessment.