Diagnostics 3 Tympanometry & Acoustic Reflex

Question 1

What does Tympanometry evaluate?

Answer 1

Middle ear function

Question 2

What are the parts of a tympanometer?

Answer 2

Manometer (pump)
Speaker generating 226Hz (delivered at different volumes)
Microphone

Question 3

What does a tymanometer measure? (2)

Answer 3

Compliance (movement of TM)
Acoustic reflex

Question 4

What scale is measured in for tympanometry?

Answer 4

daPa (decapascals)
0daPa is normal atmospheric pressure

Question 5

What happens when tone is played towards TM during tympanometry? (3)

Answer 5

Some is

Transferred
Absorbed
Reflected

Question 6

What are the 2 axis labels on a tympanogram?

Answer 6

X axis - pressure in daPa
Y axis - compliance in mm

Question 7

What is normal atmospheric pressure during tympanometry?

Answer 7

-50 - + 50daPa

Question 8

What is the normal EAM volume during tympanometry?

Answer 8

0.3-1.6cm cubed

Question 9

What is happening here?

Answer 9

Normal compliance with TM
Eustachian tube working normally

Question 10

What is happening here?

Answer 10

No TM movement
- perforation
- middle ear affusion (fluid)
- grommets

Question 11

What is happening here?

Answer 11

Eustachian tube malfunction
If negative pressure in the middle ear

Question 12

What is happening here?

Answer 12

Reduced compliance
Eustachian tube working
Peak compliance very low
TM scarring
Ossicular chain fixation
Flat conductive loss
Otosclerosis

Question 13

What is happening here?

Answer 13

Eustachian tube working
Peak compliance very high
Ossicular chain disarticulation

Question 14

What are the outcomes of acoustic reflex test in tympanometry?

Answer 14

Reflex present - probable normal middle ear function

Reflex absent - possible middle ear problem or severe sensorineural hearing loss or retro cochlea problem