If you have any of the symptoms of a ruptured eardrum, the doctor will do an otoscopic exam. An otoscope is an instrument with a light that's used to look inside the ear. In most cases, if there is a hole or tear in the eardrum, the doctor will be able to see it.
Sometimes there may be too much wax or drainage for the doctor to clearly see the eardrum. If this is the case, the doctor may clean the ear canal or prescribe eardrops for you to use to help clear it. Sometimes, the doctor uses a rubber bulb attached to the otoscope to blow a puff of air into the ear. If the eardrum is not ruptured, it will move when the air hits it. If it is ruptured, it won't.