Testing Your Hearing With Tympanometry

When hearing loss occurs, one method that is used to test the functionality of the ear is tympanometry. Officially this is not a “hearing test” as far as hearing tests go. This is a test for the middle ear and all of its functions. It also tests and ensures that your eardrum is working well. This test measures the energy transmission through the middle ear and can indicate where potential hearing loss can occur in and around the middle ear.

During this procedure, a small rubber tip is placed into your ear and a small amount of air is pumped into the outer ear. Any problems in the middle ear may show up on this test, like fluid build up. Fluid build up can be painful and indicate issues like infection which need to be dealt with in a speedy manner. One of the best functions of tympanometry is the fact that a blockage can be located that is causing degradation in your hearing and it will also assist the hearing professional in determining if medical treatment will help the problem.

Hearing Issues That Can Be Detected With Tympanometry

One of the problems that tympanometry helps detect immediately is the stiffening of the middle ear. The test measures this issue by sending sound into the ear. If a lot of the sound is reflected back it may indicate that there is an issue and will allow for further more specialised testing to take place. Fluid build-up and severity can also be detected and like the stiffening issue can allow for more specialised testing and treatment to take place.

Tympanometry: Helpful, But Not Diagnostic

While the tympanometry is helpful in indicating that there may be problems and can allow other tests to be ordered to allow for more specialised testing to be done to detect and treat problems, this test should not be used as a diagnostic tool, nor should the patient attempt to derive conclusions from the data that is provided as a result of this test. Your hearing professional will be able to examine the test and answer any questions that you may have in regards to this issue, but you just cannot use this test as a diagnostic tool.

Different Types of Tympanograms

There are three different types of results to be garnered from tympanometry. Type A Tympanograms are considered to be very good and means that things are functioning very well. There is proper and regular pressure in the ear, with normal movement of the ear drum and conductive bones. This is what you want to hear because it means that the ear is functioning properly. Type B and Type C indicate that there may be problems and issues in the middle ear. Those potential issues could be anything from scarring of the tympanic membrane to lack of contact between bones, perforation of the tympanic membrane, fluid build up, or at the dramatic end of the spectrum, a possible tumour in the ear. Any of these issues will need further testing and possible medical treatment to ensure no long term damage to your hearing.