Tests · Hearing
Tympanometry: the state of your middle ear
Tympanometry measures how the eardrum moves and what the pressure is within the middle ear. It is the test that shows whether fluid has collected behind the membrane, a very common cause of hearing loss in children. It takes a few minutes, is painless, and is usually performed alongside audiometry.
Medically reviewed by Prof. Aline Bittencourt, MD, PhD, CRM-MA 7562 · RQE 1832 Updated on
What does tympanometry assess?
The middle ear is an air-filled chamber. To work properly it needs to be at the same pressure as the surroundings — a job done by the Eustachian tube, the channel linking the ear to the back of the nose. When that tube does not work well, pressure falls and fluid can collect.
Tympanometry measures precisely that: the mobility of the eardrum and the pressure within the middle ear. It is an objective test that does not depend on the person responding at all.
How is it done?
A small rubber tip seals the entrance to the ear canal. The equipment varies air pressure and emits a continuous tone, measuring how much of that sound is reflected by the eardrum. Louder sounds then assess the stapedial reflex — the automatic contraction of a middle ear muscle in response to loud sound.
The test takes a few minutes per ear.
What do the results usually mean?
| Curve | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Type A | Mobility and pressure within expected limits |
| Type B | Flat curve; suggests middle ear fluid or a perforation |
| Type C | Negative pressure; suggests Eustachian tube dysfunction |
The result is always read alongside audiometry and the clinical examination. An abnormal curve is not, on its own, a diagnosis.
Who performs it at Clínica Rhinus?
The test is carried out by the speech-language pathologists on our team, usually in the same session as audiometry, and the result is interpreted at the consultation with the ENT specialist.
How should I prepare for this test?
- Bring the medical request: it is required for all tests, whether under insurance or self-pay.
- No special preparation is needed.
- Tell us if you have had recent ear surgery or have a ventilation tube in place.
- If there is a lot of wax in the canal, it may need to be removed first.
Sources: Brazilian Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervico-Facial Surgery (ABORL-CCF) · Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2020. · Bento RF, Bittencourt AG, Voegels RL. Seminários em Otorrinolaringologia. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about hearing
Does tympanometry hurt?
No. A small rubber tip is placed at the entrance to the ear canal and the equipment varies air pressure slightly. The sensation resembles ears blocking while driving down a hill, and it lasts seconds. Children tend to be more surprised by the noise than troubled by discomfort.
What is the result used for?
The graph produced, called a tympanogram, shows whether the eardrum moves normally, whether there is fluid behind it, or whether middle ear pressure is altered. This is why the test is decisive in otitis media with effusion, the painless form of otitis that impairs a child's hearing.
Can babies have this test?
They can, and it is common. The test does not depend on any response from the child. In very young babies, the speech-language pathologist may use a different probe frequency, suited to the characteristics of the ear at that age.