What is Tympanometry?

When you come in for a hearing test, you might expect to wear headphones and listen for faint beeps—but there's more to the story. One of the most important (and lesser-known) tests we perform is called tympanometry. While it only takes a minute or two, this simple test reveals a treasure trove of information about the condition of your middle ear. Tympanometry doesn’t measure hearing directly. Instead, it assesses how well your eardrum and middle ear are functioning. It helps us detect things like:

- Fluid in the middle ear

- Eardrum perforations

- Blockages in the ear canal (like wax)

- Dysfunction of the tiny middle ear bones (ossicles)

- Eustachian tube dysfunction

In other words, it helps rule out why you might not be hearing well even before hearing loss becomes evident on a standard test.

‍

‍

How Does It Work?

Tympanometry works by gently changing the air pressure in your ear canal while a small probe emits a sound and measures the eardrum's movement (compliance). The results are graphed as a tympanogram, which tells us whether your middle ear is functioning normally or if something is off. It also provides key measurements like ear canal volume and eardrum compliance.

For example:

- Normal adult ear canal volume: 0.5 to 2.5 ml

- Perforated eardrum: Ear canal volume might spike up to 5.5 ml

- Complete wax blockage: Very low volume, suggesting the probe can’t measure past the blockage These measurements help us interpret what’s going on behind the scenes and guide next steps for care.

‍

‍

What Tympanometry Can Reveal?

Imagine someone has a head cold and hears a “crackling” sound in their ear. Tympanometry could show negative pressure behind the eardrum, indicating fluid or mucus in the middle ear making it harder to hear clearly.

It’s a bit like trying to ride a bike through mud: your ears are still working, but they’re bogged down.

This is especially common in children. Their Eustachian tubes which help drain fluid from the middle ear are shorter and more horizontal than adults’, making drainage more difficult. As a result, fluid builds up more easily, especially during or after a cold.

That’s why your child might shout or seem like they’re ignoring you, they may simply not be hearing well due to fluid buildup.

Teaching children to blow their nose properly is more than good hygiene; it can help reduce middle ear issues and prevent temporary hearing loss.

‍

‍

Why Tympanometry Matters

Tympanometry is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s typically performed alongside:

- Pure tone audiometry (standard hearing test)

- Speech testing

- Bone conduction testing

Together, these tools help us build a complete picture of your ear health both outer, middle, and inner ear. If anything seems abnormal, we can investigate further or refer you for medical treatment.

‍

At Sharon King Hearing, tympanometry is a routine part of our diagnostic process because we believe in a full-picture approach to your hearing health. If you're noticing muffled hearing, crackling, or your child seems to have trouble hearing during colds, tympanometry might reveal the cause.

Call us on (02) 6766 2100 to book your hearing test or to ask any questions. Your ears will thank you.

‍