What is a tympanometer, and how does it work?
Hearing doctor Chandler Mesa Scottsdale Tempe Phoenix
Audiologists can use a variety of different methods to assess how well your auditory system is functioning. There are a variety of hearing tests that are commonly used to determine how well you can hear, and if you have a hearing loss, to help classify the type and degree.
One of the instruments that may be used to assess your auditory system is a tympanometer. This is a diagnostic device that can be used on people of any age, from babies to older adults. Although it can feel a little strange for your hearing doctor to use a tympanometer, it doesn’t hurt.
What is this device? How does it work, and what might it mean if your results are abnormal?
A tympanometer measures the movement of your eardrum
Tympanometers are used to measure how well your eardrum is moving. To do this, the device needs to create an airtight seal with your ear. It has a soft silicone tip that fits closely inside of the ear canal, allowing it to form this seal.
Next, the device creates puffs of air. It also emits some low-frequency (low-pitched) sounds. During this part of the test, people may have a strange feeling of pressure building up in their ears, much like you might feel on an airplane when the cabin pressure changes.
The tympanometer senses how the eardrum is moving in response to the air pressure changes and the sound waves.
What does it mean if your tympanometry results are abnormal?
If the results of testing with a tympanometer are normal, this means your eardrums are moving normally. If not, then something is interfering with the movement of the eardrum.
This often occurs because of a buildup of fluid in the middle ear, which is the space right behind the eardrum. Ear infections can cause fluid to build up in this area, and the pressure of the fluid prevents the eardrum from moving correctly.
There are also other possible causes of abnormal tympanometry results. A severe buildup of earwax in the ear canal can interfere with the normal movement of the eardrum. If the eardrum is scarred or if it has a hole in it, then it may also not move normally. Diseases that affect the ossicles, which are the small bones of the middle ear that transmit pressure waves from the eardrum to the cochlea, can also cause interference with the eardrum’s movements. Problems with the eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the nose and throat in order to equalize pressure, can also lead to abnormal pressure in the middle ear and interfere with eardrum movement. In rare cases, a tumor or other growth in the middle ear may be creating pressure.
Hearing doctor Chandler Mesa Scottsdale Tempe Phoenix
Properly interpreting the results of a tympanometry test can be complex. There are a variety of different possible causes of an abnormal test. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, a hearing doctor may perform this test along with several others, to help determine what’s causing your hearing loss.
If you’re concerned about your hearing or that of your child or another loved one, we invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fynes or Dr. Knighton. As hearing doctors with many years of training and experience, they’re well-qualified to help discover the source of the problem and recommend the right treatment. Please contact our office to schedule your appointment.
