Background and Identification
Tympanometry is an examination technique used to test the function of the middle ear. Unlike a hearing test, which checks a patient’s hearing sensitivity across a range of frequencies, tympanometry provides an object measurement of the amount of energy transmitted through the middle ear.
Tympanometry involves inserting a specialized probe, called a tympanometer, into the ear canal and creating a tight seal. The probe includes a speaker that generates a low-frequency tone, a microphone to record the sound bouncing off the tympanic membrane, and an air pressure regulator that can vary the amount of air pressure in the ear canal.
Additional Information
- Wikipedia article: Tympanometry
- Tympanometry (American Family Physician)
- Continuing Education: Tympanometry (International Hearing Society PDF)
- Tympanometry (Paper authored by the ASHA Working Group on Aural Acoustic-Immittance Measurements, Committee on Audiologic Evaluation)