Tympanometry
A quick, usually not painful test that checks how well your eardrum and middle ear are working by gently changing the air pressure in your ear canal, helping to find problems such as fluid behind the eardrum.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- Tympanometry checks how well your eardrum and middle ear move; it does not measure your hearing levels on its own.
- It is quick and usually not painful — usually a few minutes per ear — with only a brief feeling of pressure.
- It helps find problems such as fluid behind the eardrum, a blocked Eustachian tube or a perforation.
- A tympanogram pattern guides the next step and is read with your other tests and an ear examination, not alone.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.
Checks how well the eardrum and middle ear are moving
Sudden hearing loss needs urgent assessment, not a routine booked test.
You sit still for a few seconds while a soft probe changes the pressure in your ear. You feel a brief pressure sensation and may hear a low tone.
A plain-English explanation of your tympanogram and what it suggests.
You sit still for a few seconds while a soft probe changes the pressure in your ear. You feel a brief pressure...
There are no after-effects. You can return to normal activities and drive as usual.
The result is usually explained on the day, alongside your standard hearing test and an ear examination.
If a middle-ear problem is found, treatment, monitoring or further tests are arranged depending on the cause.
What is tympanometry?
Tympanometry is a quick, usually not painful test that checks how well your eardrum and middle ear (the air-filled space behind the eardrum) are working. A soft probe is placed in your ear canal to make a gentle seal, and it changes the air pressure slightly while measuring how easily your eardrum moves. The result is drawn as a graph called a tympanogram.
It is used to look for middle-ear problems such as fluid behind the eardrum (common after colds or in children with glue ear), a blocked or poorly working Eustachian tube, a hole (perforation) in the eardrum, or problems with the tiny middle-ear bones. It is often done alongside a standard hearing test.
The test provides information about the middle ear; it does not measure your hearing levels directly and does not treat anything. A tympanogram is usually grouped into broad patterns (often labelled Type A, B or C) that suggest how the middle ear is behaving. A result guides what to do next and is read alongside your other tests and an ear examination, rather than giving a complete diagnosis on its own.
You may feel a brief sensation of pressure, like a small change in altitude, and you might hear a low tone, but it does not hurt.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Tympanometry vs pure tone audiometry
| Tympanometry | Pure tone test | |
|---|---|---|
| What it checks | Middle-ear movement | Hearing levels |
| What you do | Sit still briefly | Press a button to beeps |
| What you feel | Brief pressure | Just listening |
| Result | Tympanogram pattern | Audiogram |
The two tests answer different questions and are usually done together: one checks the middle ear, the other measures how well you hear.
Preparing for your test
- Keep your ear free of anything blocking it; tell the team if you think you have a lot of earwax, as it can affect the test.
- Mention any recent ear infection, cold, ear surgery or a known hole in the eardrum.
- Let the team know if you have grommets (ventilation tubes) fitted.
- For children, a calm, settled child gives the best result, so a familiar toy or comforter can help.
- There is no special preparation otherwise — you can eat, drink and take your medicines as usual.
- Bring details of any previous hearing or middle-ear tests to compare.
What happens
The audiologist or clinician looks in your ear first, then places a soft probe tip into the opening of your ear canal to make a gentle seal. You need to sit still and avoid talking, swallowing or moving for a few seconds while the test runs.
The probe changes the air pressure slightly and measures how your eardrum moves in response. You may feel a brief sensation of pressure, similar to a small altitude change, and may hear a low humming tone. It does not hurt. Each ear takes only a few seconds to a minute, and the machine draws a tympanogram.
The result is usually explained on the day, alongside your standard hearing test and an examination of your ear, to build a picture of how your middle ear and hearing are working.
Is this test right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Sudden hearing loss needs urgent assessment, not a routine booked test.
- It does not measure hearing levels, so it is the wrong test if that is the only question.
- It may need adapting, or give limited information, very soon after some ear surgery.
- It cannot, on its own, diagnose the cause of a middle-ear problem.
Delay or rearrange if…
- You have a lot of earwax blocking the ear canal, which can prevent a good seal.
- Your ear is acutely painful or infected, when the test may be uncomfortable, until advised.
- You have had recent ear surgery and have been advised to wait.
- There is a sudden change in your hearing that needs urgent review first.
Alternatives to discuss
- An ear examination alone for a basic check of the eardrum.
- Pure tone audiometry to measure hearing levels.
- Watchful waiting for fluid that often clears by itself, especially after a cold.
- Referral to ENT if a structural problem is suspected.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- Checks how well the eardrum and middle ear are moving
- Helps find fluid behind the eardrum, common in glue ear
- Can suggest a blocked Eustachian tube or a perforation
- Quick, usually not painful and suitable for adults and children
- Adds useful detail to a standard hearing test
- Provides a baseline to compare against in future
Risks & complications
- A brief feeling of pressure in the ear during the test
- A low tone you can hear while the test runs
- Needing to repeat the test if you move, talk or swallow
- A result affected by earwax blocking the probe
- An uncomfortable sensation if the ear is sore or recently infected
- Difficulty getting a seal, for example with a narrow or waxy ear canal
- A result that needs other tests to interpret fully
- Brief dizziness in people whose balance system is very sensitive to pressure
- The test being unsuitable or needing care with certain ear conditions or recent ear surgery
Tympanometry is usually not painful and carries very little risk; the main sensation is a brief feeling of pressure. It can be uncomfortable if the ear is sore or recently operated on, so tell the team about any ear problems. The result describes how the middle ear is moving rather than diagnosing a cause on its own, and earwax can affect it. Ask what your tympanogram pattern means and what the plan is if it is abnormal.
Published figures to discuss
Tympanometry is a non-invasive test, so meaningful complication rates are not the issue. What matters is interpretation: a tympanogram describes middle-ear movement and can be affected by earwax, movement or a poor seal, and the patterns overlap rather than giving a definite diagnosis. There are no robust adverse-event rates to quote, so none are given here.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical harm from tympanometry | Very low | The test uses brief ear-canal pressure changes and is usually well tolerated. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Abnormal result from wax or poor probe seal | Recognised | Ear-canal blockage, movement or an incomplete seal can make the tracing misleading. | NHS — Hearing testsnhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Middle-ear fluid inferred but not fully diagnosed | Core limitation | Tympanometry supports assessment but needs otoscopy, symptoms and hearing results. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Normal tympanogram despite symptoms | Possible | Inner-ear, auditory nerve or central listening problems can exist with normal middle-ear pressure. | NHS — Hearing testsnhs.ukSource-linked context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no recovery from tympanometry. You can carry on with your day straight away. What matters afterwards is how the result is explained alongside your other hearing tests and ear examination.
- A brief feeling of pressure during the test that passes immediately
- No physical after-effects
- Having the result explained alongside your other hearing tests
- Sometimes repeating the test for a clear reading
Aftercare
- Ask what your tympanogram pattern (such as Type A, B or C) means in plain terms.
- Discuss how the result fits with your symptoms, such as muffled hearing or fullness.
- If fluid or a Eustachian tube problem is found, ask what the options are, including watchful waiting.
- If a perforation is found, follow advice about keeping the ear dry and avoiding water.
- Keep a copy of your result so future tests can be compared.
- Attend any follow-up or further tests that are arranged.
- Ear free of blockage, with earwax mentioned if present
- Recent ear infection, surgery, grommets or perforation flagged
- A familiar toy or comforter for a child, if relevant
- Previous hearing or middle-ear results brought to compare
- Questions written down about the result and any treatment
- Follow-up appointment noted if arranged
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Sudden hearing loss, especially in one ear — this should be assessed urgently, separately from a routine test
- Severe ear pain, or pain with fever, that is getting worse
- Discharge of pus or blood from the ear
- Hearing loss with dizziness, facial weakness or severe headache — seek prompt medical advice
- A sudden feeling that the ear is blocked along with vertigo
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A normal result (often a Type A tympanogram) suggests the eardrum and middle ear are moving as expected. A flat trace (Type B) can suggest fluid behind the eardrum or a perforation, and a trace shifted towards negative pressure (Type C) can suggest a Eustachian tube that is not equalising pressure well. These patterns point towards a likely middle-ear state.
Results have limits. Tympanometry describes how the middle ear is moving rather than confirming a diagnosis, and it does not measure your hearing levels. Earwax, movement or a poor seal can affect it. Your clinician interprets the tympanogram alongside an ear examination, your standard hearing test and your symptoms, and may repeat it or add other tests.
The middle ear can change quickly — for example, fluid after a cold may clear over weeks. So the result reflects how things are now, and the test is often repeated to track changes, such as monitoring glue ear in children or checking that fluid has cleared.
Related tests, treatments or support
Tympanometry is usually done alongside pure tone audiometry and, often, acoustic reflex testing using the same probe. Together with an ear examination and your symptoms, these build a picture of how your middle ear and hearing are working and guide whether treatment, monitoring or further tests are needed.
Follow-up & long-term care
The result is usually explained on the day, as part of your overall hearing assessment. If a middle-ear problem is found, the next step depends on the cause — for example monitoring fluid, treating an infection, or referral. The test is often repeated to check whether a problem has settled.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- The test is often repeated if you moved, talked or swallowed, or if earwax affected the seal.
- It is commonly repeated to track changes, such as monitoring glue ear or checking fluid has cleared.
- A pattern may be borderline and need interpreting alongside other tests.
- Middle-ear findings can change quickly, so a single result is a snapshot.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A plain-English explanation of your tympanogram and what it suggests.
- Clear advice on whether monitoring, treatment or referral is needed.
- Dry-ear advice if a perforation is found, and a plan to recheck if appropriate.
- A written record so future tests can be compared.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether it is part of a fuller hearing assessment or a standalone test
- The clinician's time and equipment
- Whether acoustic reflex testing is included
- Whether an ear examination and standard hearing test are included
- Any follow-up appointment to discuss results
- Further tests if results are unclear
- Which tests are included in the appointment
- The clinician's and facility fees
- Whether a written report and results discussion are included
- Whether a standard hearing test and ear examination are included
- Any follow-up appointment cost
- What happens, and what it costs, if more tests are needed
On the NHS? Tympanometry is widely available on the NHS as part of audiology and ENT assessment when clinically indicated; private testing may be used for speed, convenience or choice of provider.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Treating a tympanogram pattern as a firm diagnosis on its own.
- Implying it measures hearing levels when it measures middle-ear movement.
- Not explaining that earwax or movement can affect the result.
- Not making clear what an abnormal result will change about care.
Marketing red flags
- Suggesting a single middle-ear test can diagnose all ear problems.
- Recommending treatment off a tympanogram alone without examination or a hearing test.
- Implying every abnormal trace needs intervention rather than monitoring.
- Not explaining the limits of the test or the option of watchful waiting.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.
- What does my tympanogram pattern mean for my ear?
- Does it suggest fluid, a Eustachian tube problem or a perforation?
- How does this fit with my hearing test and symptoms?
- Is treatment needed now, or is watchful waiting reasonable?
- Should the test be repeated to check the problem has settled?
- Could earwax have affected the result today?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the specialist who carries out my test, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this test not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Does tympanometry hurt?
Does it test my hearing?
What do Type A, B and C mean?
Can my child have this test?
Can it be done if I have a hole in my eardrum or grommets?
Is it available on the NHS?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Hearing tests British Society of Audiology — Recommended procedures British Academy of Audiology RNID — What happens in an audiology appointment ENT UK — patient information
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
Related guides: Hearing and balance assessment · Acoustic reflex testing · Speech audiometry · Speech-in-noise testing · Age-related hearing loss assessment