Name: Fizza Arshad
Roll No: A-1842
Assignment: Tympanometry
Submitted To: Ma’am Faiza
Tympanometry
Tympanometry is an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and
mobility of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and the conduction bones by
creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.
Tympanometry is an objective test of middle-ear function. It is not a hearing test,
but rather a measure of energy transmission through the middle ear. The test
should not be used to assess the sensitivity of hearing and the results of this test
should always be viewed in conjunction with pure tone audiometry.
Tympanometry is a valuable component of the audiometric evaluation. In
evaluating hearing loss, tympanometry permits a distinction between
sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, when evaluation is not apparent via
Weber and Rinne testing. Furthermore, in a primary care setting, tympanometry
can be helpful in making the diagnosis of otitis media by demonstrating the
presence of fluid build up in the middle ear cavity.
Procedure
Before the test, a primary care doctor may look inside your ear canal with a
special instrument called an otoscope. This is to make sure there’s no earwax or
a foreign object obstructing your ear canal.
Next, they’ll place a probe-type device in your ear canal. It may feel a little
uncomfortable, and you may hear loud tones as the device begins to take
measurements.
This test changes the air pressure in your ear to make the eardrum move back
and forth. Measurements of the movement of your eardrum are recorded in a
tympanogram.
You won’t be able to move, speak, or swallow during the test. If you do, it may
give an incorrect result.
The test takes about two minutes or less for both ears and usually takes place in a
doctor’s office. People of all ages can have tympanometry, though it can be more
difficult for children who are too young to cooperate.
Figure 1
Type A tympanogram. Type AD has a high peak height. The middle curve is normal. Type AS has a reduced peak
height.
Why Is Tympanometry
Performed?
Tympanometry can help diagnose disorders that can lead to hearing loss,
especially in children. The test measures the movement of your tympanic
membrane in response to changes in pressure.
The tympanic membrane is a thin tissue that separates the middle and outer
segments of the ear. The results of tympanometry are recorded on a graph called
a tympanogram.
The test can help your doctor determine if you have:
Fluid in your middle ear
Otitis media (a middle ear infection)
A perforation (tear) in the tympanic membrane
A problem with the eustachian tube, which links the upper part of the
throat and nose with the middle ear
Your child’s doctor may perform tympanometry every few weeks for several
months to chronicle how much fluid your child has in their middle ear over time.
