Tympanometry

Do you often ask others to repeat themselves? Do you have to turn up the volume of the radio or television? Or perhaps you have trouble understanding people in a crowd. These situations, among many others, are common signs of hearing loss. It is important to have your hearing tested as soon as the first symptoms appear.

Unlike other hearing tests, tympanometry does not measure hearing sensitivity. Instead, it is used to detect middle ear dysfunction. This particular test is ideal for determining if you are a candidate for hearing aids and is often prescribed in conjunction with a series of other hearing tests. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about tympanometry.

What is tympanometry?

Hearing professionals use tympanometry to check the condition of the middle ear, eardrum, and ossicles. The functioning of these parts of the ear is examined using an acoustic device that varies the air pressure in the ear canal. It is important to note that this test does not evaluate hearing sensitivity and should only be used as part of an audiological evaluation. Like other hearing tests, tympanometry is usually simple and painless, unless the eardrum or middle ear are severely inflamed at the time of the examination.

How is a tympanometry test performed?

After an otoscopy—an examination of the ear with an otoscope—is performed to ensure that the path to the eardrum is clear, your hearing professional inserts a tympanometer probe into your ear canal. The tympanometer is an acoustic measuring device equipped with a microphone. It varies the air pressure in your ear canal while a low-frequency sound is played. This sensation is often compared to the pressure changes one feels in a car in the mountains or on an airplane during takeoff. As the pressure changes, the movements of your eardrum are measured by the tympanometer and the results are then recorded on a tympanogram. A 226 Hz sound is the most common frequency played in the ear canal. However, other sounds may be used in rarer cases. In infants (generally under 4 months old), a 1000 Hz frequency is used to obtain more accurate results.

What do tympanometry test results mean?

As mentioned above, the results of a tympanometry test are recorded on a tympanogram. A tympanogram is a graph that represents how the eardrum moves in response to changes in air pressure in the ear canal. Middle ear problems often cause stiffening, so the sound played into the ear canal is reflected back. Tympanometry can also help detect "otitis media," which is the presence of fluid in the middle ear cavity. The results of a tympanometry test are therefore useful for identifying functional problems of the middle ear. From the tympanogram, your hearing professional can make an accurate diagnosis and guide you towards the appropriate treatment for your hearing situation. Note that the results of this test should be compared with those of a pure-tone audiometry for an optimal diagnosis.

Conclusion

Tympanometry is a very useful acoustic test for evaluating the functioning of the middle ear and eardrum, but it should not be used alone to measure hearing sensitivity. Based on your results, a hearing professional can offer you a diagnosis and a treatment plan adapted to improve your hearing. If you experience symptoms of hearing loss, consult your general practitioner or an audiologist and have your hearing tested as soon as possible. If you are told you are a candidate for hearing aids, do not hesitate to discover our quality hearing products at an affordable price at CLARIA!

Thank you for reading this article,

Kathleen Williams

Editor-in-Chief, CLARIA