A tympanometry test can help diagnose disorders that can lead to hearing loss, especially in children. The test measures the movement of the tympanic membrane in response to changes in pressure. The tympanic membrane is a thin tissue that separates the middle and outer ear segments. The results of a tympanometry are recorded on a graph called a tympanogram.

The test enables the doctor to ascertain:

• middle ear infection
• fluid in the middle ear
• a tear in the eardrum
• Eustachian tube dysfunction