How to Perform a Full HEENT Exam on a Patient

After performing a Vital Signs examination on a patient, usually, the next step for a doctor is performing the HEENT.

HEENT stands for Head, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat. This is the first big step in a general physical examination. Like other parts of the general physical examination, it begins with inspection and then proceeds to palpation. Andrew Lockman, from the Department of Family Medicine, also teaches doctors in this video about the required use of several special instruments to inspect the eyes and ears, as well as special techniques to assess their special sensory function.

Here's what you would expect to learn during a full lesson on the Head, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat examination, including using an ophthalmoscope:

1. Identify anatomic landmarks of the head, neck, ear, nose, mouth, and throat.
2. Describe the physical examination techniques for routine head, neck, eye, ear, nose, and throat evaluation.
3. Describe the physical examination techniques to distinguish types of hearing loss.
4. Describe normal findings of the head, neck, ear, nose, and throat exam.