Recommended Procedure

Tympanometry

Date of version: August 2013

Date for review: August 2018
Recommended procedure British Society of Audiology
Tympanometry 2013
 

General foreword
This document presents a Recommended Procedure by the British Society of
Audiology (BSA). A Recommended Procedure provides a reference standard for
the conduct of an audiological intervention that represents, to the best
knowledge of the BSA, the evidence-base and consensus on good practice
given the stated methodology and scope of the document and at the time of
publication.

Although care has been taken in preparing this information, the BSA does not
and cannot guarantee the interpretation and application of it. The BSA cannot
be held responsible for any errors or omissions, and the BSA accepts no liability
whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever arising. This document
supersedes any previous recommended procedure on tympanometry by the
BSA and stands until superseded or withdrawn by the BSA.

Comments on this document are welcomed and should be sent to:

British Society of Audiology

80 Brighton Road, Reading

Berkshire, RG6 1PS, UK

[email protected]

www.thebsa.org

Published by the British Society of Audiology

© British Society of Audiology, 2013
All rights reserved. This document may be freely reproduced for educational and not-for-profit
purposes. No other reproduction is allowed without the written permission of the British Society
of Audiology. Please avoid paper wastage, e.g. by using double-sided (‘duplex’) printing.

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1. Contents
2.   Introduction ................................................................................................... 4  
3.   General considerations................................................................................. 4  
4.   Equipment .................................................................................................... 5  
5.   Calibration .................................................................................................... 5  
6.   Subject preparation ...................................................................................... 6  
6.1   Considerations for testing .................................................................... 7  
6.2   Subject instructions .............................................................................. 8  
7.   Test procedure ............................................................................................. 9  
7.1   Subjects with a corrected age over 6 months using a 226-Hz probe
tone ...................................................................................................... 9  
7.2   Subjects with a corrected age under 6 months using a 1000-Hz probe
tone .................................................................................................... 10  
8.   Results and reporting ................................................................................. 10  
8.1   Subjects with a corrected age over 6 months using a 226-Hz probe
tone .................................................................................................... 11  
8.1.1   Tympanometric shape ............................................................. 11  
8.1.2   Tympanic peak pressure and middle ear pressure ................. 11  
8.1.3   Admittance or compliance ....................................................... 11  
8.1.4   Ear-canal volume ..................................................................... 11  
8.1.5   Reporting results ..................................................................... 12  
8.2   Subjects with a corrected age under 6 months using a 1000-Hz probe
tone .................................................................................................... 13  
9.   References ................................................................................................. 14  
Appendix A.   Authors and acknowledgements .............................................. 15  
Appendix B.   Definitions ................................................................................ 16  
Appendix C.   Units ......................................................................................... 18  
Appendix D.   Effects of sweep speed and direction ...................................... 18  
Appendix E.   Examples of 1000-Hz tympanometry traces ............................ 19  
 

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2. Introduction
This document combines and revises recommendations made previously by the
British Society of Audiology (BSA, 1992) and the Newborn Hearing Screening
Programme Clinical Group (2008); see Appendix A for details. Its purpose is to
describe recommended procedures for conducting tympanometry as a means of
analysing middle-ear function for subjects of all ages, from birth to adulthood.
The recommendations are deemed suitable for routine clinical measurements
applicable to most types of instruments measuring aural acoustic impedance/
admittance using a nominal probe frequency of 226 Hz for subjects whose
corrected age is equal to or greater than 6 months (i.e. at least 6 months from
the child’s due date), and 1000 Hz for subjects below 6 months corrected age.
(Recommendations regarding acoustic reflex testing will now be provided in a
separate document.) Basic guidance is also provided on test precautions and
interpretation. However, it is essential that the competent person carrying out
the test (i.e. the ‘tester’), or responsible for it, uses his/her professional
judgement when deciding on the particular approach to be used with each
‘subject’ (i.e. the person who is being tested), given the specific circumstances
and the purposes of the test, and the tester’s level of competency.

Unless stated otherwise, the procedure described here represents the status of
the current evidence base, taking into account other factors that influence
desirable procedure, as interpreted by the Professional Practice Committee of
the BSA in consultation with its stakeholders (see Appendix A). The document
was developed in accordance with BSA (2003).

Definitions of terms and units used in this document are found in Appendices B
and C. The term ‘shall’ is used in this document to refer to essential practice,
and ‘should’ is used to refer to desirable practice. Where ‘6 months’ age is
referred to in this document, this is 6 months corrected age.

3. General considerations
Acoustic reflex measurements and Eustachian tube function testing are beyond
the scope of this document and will be addressed in separate documents. Also,
the use of high-frequency tympanometry in subjects over six months old is
outside the scope of this document.

The examiner shall adopt procedures relating to hygiene and infection control as
described by relevant local policies, considering, at least, hand-cleaning prior to
and after examination, the covering of breaks in the skin, the avoidance of direct
contact with bodily fluids and the cleaning or disposal of tips. The same tip shall
not be used for different subjects unless it has been appropriately cleaned (see
previous statement). Single use disposable tips should be used if available. The
same tip shall not be used for each ear of a subject where there is a risk of
transferring an infection between the ears1.
                                                                                                               
1  As
judged by the examiner. For example, on the basis of examination of the first ear, the subject’s symptoms or
medical history or advice provided by another (e.g. medical) professional. If the examiner is in doubt, he/she shall seek
advice or use a separate tip for each ear.  

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4. Equipment
The tympanometer and probe tip shall be clean (i.e. free from dust and dirt and
in compliance with local infection control standards). Tympanometers shall meet
the performance and calibration requirements of BS EN 60645–5.

There are two main types of probe tip shapes used: umbrella and mushroom. In
most cases, the mushroom shape is preferable, particularly when inserting the
probe tip into the ear canal and not holding it in place because the umbrella
shape may buckle in such instances. In all cases it is essential to select the
correct tip size to ensure that testing is not uncomfortable for the test subject
and that an adequate seal is maintained. When holding the probe tip in position,
for example when performing screening tympanometry on a young child, an
umbrella shape tip that covers the entrance of the ear canal may be preferable.

5. Calibration
The calibration of the instrument shall be checked daily with the probe fitted to
an appropriate cavity such as the one supplied by the manufacturer. The
performance of the instrument shall also be checked on an ear known to
produce a normal, peaked tympanogram (e.g. to ensure the pump is operational
and its tube is not blocked).

Test cavities must have dimensions which are small compared to the
wavelength of sound at 226 Hz; metal or hard plastic cylinders with a ratio of
length to diameter of between one and three and volumes in the range 0.5 to
5.0 cm3 are recommended. A calibration check in the test cavity should produce
a horizontal line, and the volume measured must be within the tolerance levels
specified by the manufacturer.

If the line is not horizontal (i.e. it slopes upwards with decreasing pressure) this
may indicate a leak in the test cavity or the probe, or the probe may not have
been inserted into the test cavity correctly. Correct insertion of the probe should
be verified and the calibration check repeated, using a different cavity if
necessary. If it is not possible to obtain a horizontal line the equipment may be
out of calibration. The exception to this is the 5.0 cm3 cavity, in which it is normal
to obtain an upward sloping line with decreasing pressure. This occurs because
the susceptance component of admittance increases with decreasing pressure,
which is more noticeable when larger volumes of air are measured.

It should be noted that many manufacturers specify a 5 % tolerance for cavity

volume. Based on this, suggested acceptable2 values for cavity volume are as
follows:

                                                                                                               
2 3
Most tympanometers only measure volume to one decimal place. It therefore follows that the 0.5 cm must give a
3 3 3
volume of exactly 0.5 cm because a reading of 0.4 cm or 0.6 cm could be out of calibration by as much as 20%. Where
3
two decimal places are displayed, a range of 0.48–0.52 cm is acceptable.

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Cavity Acceptable value

0.5 cm3 0.5 cm3

2.0 cm3 1.9–2.1 cm3

5.0 cm3 4.8–5.2 cm3

These are given as guides; in all cases calibration shall be conducted according
to the manufacturers’ manuals and BS EN 60645–5.

Where 1000-Hz probe tones are to be used, a high-frequency test cavity

provided by the manufacturer shall be used. This test cavity is not sealed, so
volume is not measured. A measurement of admittance should be taken at
0 daPa and compared to the specifications of the manufacturer.

A more detailed examination and laboratory test of all functions should be made
every six months, and shall be made no less than once per year in accordance
with BS EN 60645–5. Equipment found to be out of calibration shall not be used
to test patients.

6. Subject preparation
Before examination, the subject (or the person responsible for the subject)
should be asked if he/she currently has any ear-related symptoms (including
discomfort, pain and discharge), is currently being treated for any ear-related
problems or has previously had surgery involving the ears. Any symptoms, or
other relevant issues, should be explored through questioning as appropriate.

The subject should be seated comfortably and should remain as still as possible
during the test. Young children may need to be held by an appropriate adult,
which should be the person responsible for the child. For example, the child
could be seated sideways on the adult’s lap, with the child’s hands secured by
one hand and the child’s head held against the chest with the other hand. In
older children and adults, an instruction to remain still will usually suffice. Any
objects that may interfere with insertion of the probe (e.g. a hearing aid) should
be removed.

Tympanometry shall be preceded by otoscopic examination (see BSA, 2010) to

ensure that there are no contraindications to continue. Testing shall proceed
only with informed consent (e.g. verbally) from the subject or person responsible
for the subject and if it is the judgement of the tester that it is safe to do so. In
the context of tympanometry, otoscopy in neonates is only intended as a
general inspection of the outer ear for obvious signs of disease, blockage or
malformation. Care shall be taken not to insert the speculum deep into the ear
canal of young babies.

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6.1 Considerations for testing

This section is intended as a guide when considering whether it is safe and
appropriate to proceed with tympanometry. It is not exhaustive, nor is it intended
to be prescriptive, and allows for discretion of sufficiently competent testers.

● Patients under general anaesthetic may have a positive peak pressure

above 200 daPa due to an artefact produced by the anaesthetic gasses.
Testing can proceed and this should be taken into account when
interpreting.

● Outer ear defects such as complete stenosis or atresia. It may be more

comfortable for the patient, and more effective when testing, to hold an
umbrella-type probe in position.

● Otorrhoea contraindicates tympanometry in all cases

● Acute otitis media

o Where a red and bulging tympanic membrane is observed during

otoscopy, tympanometry is contraindicated
● Tenderness/ soreness in the ear and otitis externa

o If possible, testing should commence with the healthy ear, so that the
patient is better able to judge whether they are happy for the “sore” ear
to be tested
o If it is deemed that it would be of clinical value to perform tympanometry,
this shall only proceed with the express consent of the subject and the
subject must know how to signal that the test should be aborted if they
experience discomfort
● Presence of foreign body in the ear canal

o It can sometimes be desirable and appropriate to conduct

tympanometry in the presence of a grommet that has or may have
extruded, although testing should proceed with caution. Otherwise,
foreign bodies (e.g. insects, cotton bud tips or peas) shall be removed
prior to tympanometry by a person qualified and competent to do so in
order to ensure that no damage to the outer ear or eardrum is caused.
● Excessive wax

o Testing is contraindicated where there is a risk that insertion of the

probe tip may push against impacted wax, risking damaging the
eardrum
o Soft wax in the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal can damage the
tympanometry probe
o Wax may be removed prior to tympanometry by someone who is
qualified and competent to do so

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o Although it can be useful to undertake tympanometry in an ear where

the view of the tympanic membrane is obscured by wax (i.e. to see if
there is any tympanic membrane mobility or a possibility of a
perforation), this shall only be performed when someone is sufficiently
qualified, competent and experienced to make a judgement that it is
safe and appropriate to proceed. In such cases it is advisable to use an
over-sized umbrella-type probe tip and hold it in position
● Previous ear surgery

o There is no agreed standard on when it is safe to conduct

tympanometry post ear surgery. If in doubt with a particular subject,
medical advice shall be sought before testing
o Testing shall only be performed given medical advice that it is safe to
proceed following ossicular surgery (e.g. stapedectomy, stapedotomy)
or reconstruction of the eardrum (e.g. tympanoplasty, myringoplasty)
o Tympanometry shall not be carried out within 2 months of ear surgery
unless formally approved (and documented) by the subject’s medical
ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist

6.2 Subject instructions

The tester shall adopt an effective communication strategy with the subject (or
his/her representative) throughout testing. This must take account of the
subject’s age, hearing, language skills and any other possible communication
difficulties.

The examiner shall explain, and where necessary demonstrate, the procedure
to the subject and/or person responsible for the subject. Where possible, the
subject should be instructed to report immediately any discomfort or pain
experienced during the test. Informed consent shall then be obtained (e.g.
verbally) from the subject or person responsible for the subject.

The tester shall inform the subject that the test can be discontinued at any point,
such as if he/she becomes uncomfortable, and how to signal any discomfort to
the tester (e.g. by raising their hand or saying “stop”). The following instructions
or equivalent should be used and it is helpful to show the subject the probe
whilst giving the instructions:

“I will insert a probe into the opening of your ear canal. The probe has a soft tip
to seal the ear. You will feel some pressure in your ear for a few seconds while I
measure the function of your middle ear. This test is automatic and I do not
require you to do anything, but please avoid any unnecessary movement and
avoid speaking or swallowing after the probe has been inserted. Should you find
the procedure painful and want me to stop, please indicate this by either saying
“stop” or by raising your hand.”

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Although outside the scope of this Recommended Procedure, if acoustic reflex

tests are to be performed automatically immediately following the tympanometry
then this should be included in the instructions given to the subject to ensure
that the probe remains in position until the acoustic reflex tests are completed.

7. Test procedure
7.1 Subjects with a corrected age over 6 months using a 226-Hz
probe tone
Fit a clean tip of suitable size and shape3 to the probe and straighten the ear
canal by gently pulling the pinna4. Point the probe in the direction of the
tympanic membrane to avoid the risk of occluding the probe aperture, for
example against the wall of the canal.

Insertion of the probe to obtain an airtight seal is sometimes difficult, especially

for an inexperienced operator. If difficulties arise, the position or size of the
probe tip should be changed. Care shall be taken not to apply extra pressure or
insert the tip too deep into the ear canal. It is sometimes helpful to apply a
smear of white petroleum jelly to the tip (taking care not to block its aperture),
particularly if the entrance to the ear canal is hairy. This may, however, lead to
the probe slipping out of the ear when positive pressure is applied. Once
inserted, the probe should not be held in place as this can be a source of
artefacts. If correctly inserted, the probe will usually stay in position on its own. If
the probe is not supported by the tester during the test, it should be ensured that
the probe cable is appropriately positioned and supported so that it does not pull
on the probe causing it to move during the test. When it is not possible to obtain
an adequate fit, for example with young children or where the anatomy of the
outer ear makes this difficult, it is acceptable to hold the probe in position,
however care shall be taken that the trace is free from artefacts and repeated if
necessary to obtain a clear trace.

A slow rate of change of pressure (50 daPa s–1 or less) should be used but with
young children it may be beneficial to use a faster sweep, sacrificing some
accuracy for speed of operation. In the absence of other requirements, tracking
should commence at +200 daPa and end once the peak, if it exists, has been
clearly recorded (see Appendix D for effects of speed and direction of pressure
change). On automatic systems a lower limit of about –300 daPa, depending on
instrument, should normally be selected but occasionally it may be necessary to
go to –600 daPa in search of a peak. In cases of normal tympanograms,
tracking should stop at –200 daPa for adults and –300 daPa for children to
minimise discomfort.

When testing adults and children on the same equipment, all test parameters
shall be checked and set appropriately prior to testing.
                                                                                                               
3
See section 4
4
The most effective manipulation of the pinna varies between subjects, particularly between adults (where manipulation
is typically upwards and backwards) and young children (where manipulation is typically backwards and sometimes also
downwards).

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If an unexpected result is obtained the test shall be repeated in its entirety, that
is, by removing the probe, inspecting the ear, checking the probe to ensure it is
not blocked, for example with wax, and re-testing. Unexpected results shall not
be accepted without verifying that they are repeatable and running a calibration
check of the probe in the test cavity and performing biologic calibration.

After tympanometry has been completed the probe tip shall be removed and all
contaminated tips shall be disposed of or cleaned as per local policy.

7.2 Subjects with a corrected age under 6 months using a 1000-Hz

probe tone
Fit a clean tip of suitable size and shape to the probe and straighten the ear
canal (e.g. by gently pulling the pinna downwards and outwards). Point the
probe in the direction of the tympanic membrane to avoid the risk of sealing the
tip against the wall of the canal. Movement of the infant and crying can result in
a false peak in the tympanogram. The baby does not need to be asleep but
should definitely be resting quietly during the test.

The direction of pressure change should be from positive to negative and the
range should be at least from +200 daPa to –400daPa (and preferably
–600daPa). A fast screening mode speed of up to 600daPa s–1 should be used.

The recommended classification system is that of Baldwin (2006), adapted from

Marchant et al (1986). Admittance is used in this scheme and one should check
that the equipment is set to measure this.

Traces should usually be repeated, if possible, to check that the result is

repeatable and not due to artefacts such as baby movement. It is especially
important to retest any ear with an abnormal or difficult-to-interpret
tympanogram.

After tympanometry has been completed the probe tip shall be removed and all
contaminated tips shall be disposed of or cleaned as per local policy.

8. Results and reporting

The following is offered as a guide. Full interpretation of results is beyond the
scope of this document.

Tympanometric results do not identify pathology uniquely and should be

interpreted in the context of other information from the complete test battery
being conducted and with particular regard to the otoscopic findings and history.

Where spurious results or artefacts are suspected, the test should be repeated
and the probe tip should be inspected to ensure it is not blocked, for example by
wax. These include flat traces, traces with more than one peak, changes in ear-
canal volume during testing, noisy traces and ear-canal volumes that are
significantly higher or lower than expected.

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8.1 Subjects with a corrected age over 6 months using a 226-Hz

probe tone
See Figure 1 below for an illustration of a normal adult tympanogram.

8.1.1 Tympanometric shape

The trace should have a single sharp peak, as in Figure 1. Double peaks may
be seen when there is scarring on the eardrum, but should be repeated to
exclude artefacts. Rounded or wide peaks should also be repeated. The
tympanometric width (width at 50 % height) may be used as a descriptor, in
which case a value of less than 200 daPa may be considered normal for
children between 1 and 7 years of age (Nozza et al, 1994).

8.1.2 Tympanic peak pressure and middle ear pressure

Tympanic peak pressure is the value on the horizontal axis of the tympanogram
at which the peak occurs. This is used to estimate the middle-ear pressure, see
Appendix D. Normal middle-ear pressure has a mean value of zero. Under
carefully controlled conditions the 95 % range in normal subjects is –20 to
+20 daPa, though pressures from –50 to +50 daPa can be considered normal in
adults; pressures down to –100 daPa may be of little clinical significance in
isolation. Children often have slightly low middle-ear pressures; pressures down
to –200 daPa may have little clinical significance.

8.1.3 Admittance or compliance

Admittance or compliance is the quantity on the vertical axis. Middle-ear
admittance or compliance is the peak value of admittance or compliance,
assuming that the contribution of the ear canal has been removed (sometimes
referred to as 'corrected' or 'compensated') as is usually the case by default.
Middle-ear admittance or compliance is normally in the range 0.3 to 1.6 cm3 in
adults; 0.2 cm3 is acceptable as the lower limit in children aged under 6 years
but over 6 months. Note that the units ml, cm3 and mmho are interchangeable
when using a 226-Hz probe tone.

8.1.4 Ear-canal volume

The acoustic properties of the ear canal (from probe tip to tympanic membrane)
are necessarily involved in tympanometric measurements (see definition of
equivalent volume, Appendix B). At 226 Hz, the canal contributes an admittance
(or compliance), which for practical purposes may be added arithmetically to the
admittance presented by the middle ear as seen from the tympanic membrane.
The canal and middle-ear components are distinguished by applying air
pressure in tympanometry. Should the tip of the probe be occluded, for example
by the wall of the canal, a seemingly small canal volume will be indicated,
whereas an open perforation will add the middle-ear volume to that of the canal
so giving an abnormally large result. Probe occlusion and an open perforation
will both be accompanied by a flat tympanogram. Typical values for ear-canal
volume (ECV) are between 0.6–1.5 cm3 for adults and 0.4-1.0 cm3 for children.

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Sweep  
direction  
Sweep  speed  

Tympanic  
membrane  
admittance  
Tympanic  peak  pressure  

Figure 1
Example of a normal tympanogram from an adult left ear.

8.1.5 Reporting results

The report should include the measurements obtained for middle-ear pressure,
admittance or compliance, and ECV. Ear-canal volume is particularly important
where a flat trace is seen in order to identify a possible open perforation and
exclude blockage or incorrect placement of the probe (i.e. against the wall of the
ear canal). The shape of the tympanogram should also be described and simple
descriptions such as ‘normal’, ‘rounded’, ‘flat’, ‘wide’ or ‘W-shaped’ are
acceptable (Feldman 1975). In the case of rounded or wide traces, a
tympanometric width measurement may also be included for subjects aged
between 1 and 7 years.

The use of classification systems (Jerger, 1970; Jerger et al, 1972) of

tympanograms according to their shape is not recommended since this can lead
to confusion or mistakes, and it is also possible that not all parties receiving a
copy of the report will be familiar with the classification system used.

A copy of the tympanogram shall be included with the report and may form the
main part of it, but it is advisable to include numerical values of middle-ear
pressure and admittance or compliance, especially if the record charts are

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printed with multiple scales. If the tympanogram is flat, or nearly flat, middle-ear
pressure may be reported as ‘indeterminate’.
Report forms should include normal values as an aid to interpretation.

For more detail and normative data references, the reader is referred to
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (1988).

8.2 Subjects with a corrected age under 6 months using a 1000-Hz

probe tone
The value of ear canal volume should be disregarded when high-frequency
probe tones are used because it will not be precise5. The exception is for use as
an indicator of a possible blockage (i.e. very small volume given), although this
should be verified (e.g. otoscopy or checking the probe).

It is recommended that the traces recorded are classified as normal or abnormal

using a classification system reported by Baldwin (2006; adapted from Marchant
et al 1986); see Figure 2:

● Draw a baseline on the trace at pressure extremes (–400/–600 to

+200 daPa); if the trace disappears below the x axis, the baseline should be
drawn to the x axis, as shown in Figure 2

● Identify the main peak which can occur at any middle-ear pressure

● Draw a vertical line from the baseline to the peak of the trace

● If the peak is above the baseline it is a positive peak and normal

● If the peak is below the baseline it is a negative peak and abnormal

● If there is a positive and negative peak the trace should be classified as

positive (i.e. normal)

● A positive peak at a positive or negative middle-ear pressure is classified as

normal, whereas a flat or “trough-shaped” i.e. negative peak is abnormal

If the conditions are good and the outcome is clear, repetition is not always
necessary to draw a conclusion. However traces should usually be repeated if
possible to check for reliability. Repeated traces should be classified in the
same category of positive or negative. If the outcome is not clear the trace
should always be repeated.

                                                                                                               
5
Both ear canal volume and middle ear pressure should be disregarded when using a 1-kHz probe tone. At 226 Hz,
3
mmho and cm are interchangeable; however, this is not the case at higher frequencies where it is not possible to
accurately calculate cavity volumes. Without an accurate measure of volume it is not possible to calculate pressure,
since pressure = density/volume.

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Figure 2
Examples of a positive and negative peak (adapted from a method used by
Marchant et al, 1986).

9. References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (1988) Tympanometry.
http://www.asha.org/policy/RP1988-00027.htm (accessed 17th July 2013).
Baldwin M (2006) Choice of probe tone and classification of trace patterns in
tympanometry undertaken in early infancy. Int J Audiol 45: 417–427.
British Society of Audiology (2003) Procedure for Processing Documents.
Reading: British Society of Audiology.
British Society of Audiology (2010) Recommended Procedure for Ear
Examination. Reading: British Society of Audiology.
BS EN 60645-5:2005. Audiometric Equipment Part 5: Instruments for the
Measurement of Aural Acoustic Impedance/Admittance. (Identical to IEC 60645-
5:2004.)
Eliachar I, Northern JL (1974) Studies in tympanometry: validation of the present
technique for determining intra-tympanic pressures through the intact eardrum.
Laryngoscope 84: 247–255.
Feldman AS (1975) Tympanometry: procedures, interpretation and variables.
In: Feldman AS, Wilbur LA (eds), Acoustic Impedance and Admittance: The
Measurement of Middle Ear Function, pp. 103–155. Baltimore: Williams and
Williams.
Flisberg K, Ingelstedt S, Ortegren U (1963) On middle ear pressure. Acta
Otolaryngol 182: 43–56.
Fowler CG, Shanks JE (2002). Tympanometry. In J. Katz (ed), Handbook of
Clinical Audiology (5th ed), pp. 175–204. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Jerger J (1970) Clinical experience with impedance audiometry. Arch
Otolaryngol 92: 311–324.

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Jerger J, Jerger SJ, Maudlin L (1972) Studies in impedance audiometry: I.

normal and sensorineural ears. Arch Otolaryngol 96: 513–523.
Marchant CD, McMillan PM, Shurin PA, Johnson CE, Turczyk VA, Feinstein JC,
Panek DM (1986) Objective diagnosis of otitis media in early infancy by
tympanometry and ipsilateral acoustic reflexes. J Pediatr 109: 590–595.
Margolis RH, Smith P (1977) Tympanometric asymmetry. J Speech Hear Res
20: 437–446.
Moller AR (1965) An experimental study of the acoustic impedance of the
middle ear and its transmission properties. Acta Otolaryngol 60: 12–149.
Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Clinical Group (2008) Tympanometry
in babies under 6 months: a recommended test protocol.
Nozza RJ, Bluestone CD, Kardatze D, Bachman R (1994) Identification of
middle ear effusion by aural acoustic immittance measurements for diagnosis of
middle ear effusion in children. Ear Hear 15: 310–323.
Rabinowitz WM (1981) Measurement of the acoustic input immittance of the
human ear. J Acoust Soc Am 70: 1025–1035.
Renvall U, Holmquist J (1976) Tympanometry revealing middle ear pathology.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 85: 209–215.
Shanks JE, Lilly DJ, Margolis RH, Wiley TL, Wilson RH (1988) Tutorial:
tympanometry. J Speech Hear Dis 53: 354–377.
Vanpeperstraete P, Creten W, Van Kamp KJ (1979) On the asymmetry of
susceptance tympanograms. Scand Audiol 8: 173–179.

Appendix A. Authors and acknowledgements

The document on which the current recommendations for high-frequency
tympanometry were based was written by Margaret Baldwin (editor), Graham
Sutton, Judy Gravel and Rob Low; it was approved by the NHS Newborn
Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) Clinical Group (2008). The ongoing
review of that document was handed over to BSA in 2011 and has been
incorporated into the BSA Recommended Procedure for tympanometry. The
combined document was revised and processed by the Professional Practice
Committee in collaboration with Margaret Baldwin between May 2011 and July
2013. The Committee thanks all involved with previous versions of this
document and all who contributed to this review, including the consultation
(summer 2012). An electronic copy of the anonymised comments received
during this consultation, and the responses to these by the authors, is available
from BSA on request.

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Appendix B. Definitions
Acoustic admittance. The reciprocal of acoustic impedance. The three
components of admittance are conductance, positive susceptance and negative
susceptance.

Note on acoustic admittance: Most existing aural acoustic impedance/

admittance instruments present the result as admittance or compliance
expressed as an equivalent air volume, which is acceptable at 226 Hz.

Acoustic compliance. The ratio of volume displacement to acoustic pressure

at a surface.

Notes on acoustic compliance:

Acoustic compliance is the acoustic analogue of electrical capacitance. It is the

fundamental property of an idealised acoustic element whose movement in
response to sound is determined solely by its elastic (spring-like) properties.

At low frequencies the middle ear behaves for practical purposes as a pure
compliance and in tympanometry (at 226 Hz) the compliance presented to the
probe may be taken as the sum of the middle-ear compliance and the
compliance of the air in the ear canal. The compliance of the middle ear is a
measure of its ‘mobility’ at low frequencies. A probe frequency of 1000 Hz is
used for babies because the impedance/ admittance of their ears is mass-
dominated.

The acoustic admittance associated with pure compliance is directly proportional

to the compliance and to the frequency of the sound.

Acoustic impedance. The opposition to the flow of sound through a surface.

Acoustic impedance has three components: resistance, negative reactance
(relating to the mass of the system) and positive reactance (relating to the
stiffness of the system).

Corrected Age. Used to describe the age of children under 2 years old who
were born preterm and represents the age of the child from their expected date
of birth. For example, a 36-week-old who was born at 28 weeks gestation (i.e.
12 weeks early) has a corrected age of 24 weeks.

Equivalent volume. The volume of an air-filled cavity having the same acoustic
admittance (or impedance, compliance etc) as that of the component or system
which it represents. One implication of this is that ear canal volume is not
measured directly but inferred from the measurement of admittance.

Middle-ear admittance or compliance. (Also known as: peak compensated

static acoustic admittance, 200 Ytm.) In tympanometry, the difference between
peak admittance/compliance and admittance/compliance measured at a
reference pressure sufficient to effectively eliminate the influence of the middle
ear.

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Notes on middle-ear admittance/compliance:

The reference pressure is normally a positive pressure of 200 daPa. At this

pressure the indicated admittance or compliance is that of the air-filled space
within the ear canal between the tip of the probe and the tympanic membrane.
Tympanometry should normally commence at the reference pressure.

The measured value of middle ear admittance or compliance may depend on

the rate and the direction of the pressure change during tympanometry and also
on the time for which a constant pressure (the reference pressure) was applied.

Middle-ear pressure. Static pressure in the middle ear relative to ambient

atmospheric pressure. This is estimated from the tympanic peak pressure. See
Appendix D.

Peak admittance or compliance. In tympanometry, the maximum admittance/

compliance; the height of the peak of the tympanogram.

Probe. A coupling device to the external ear canal connecting the

tympanometer to the ear.

Tympanogram. A graph of acoustic impedance/ admittance (or of a related

quantity such as compliance) as a function of air pressure in the external ear.

Tympanic peak pressure. This is the ear canal pressure at which the peak of
the tympanogram occurs and is used to estimate middle ear pressure. See
Appendix D.

Tympanometric width. Calculated by measuring the width of the tympanogram

curve at 50% of its height. A value of less than 200 daPa may be considered
normal for children between 1 and 7 years of age (Nozza et al, 1994).
Tympanometric width is sometimes also referred to as Tympanometric Gradient
although these are not necessarily the same thing and more often than not
aren’t. The gradient describes the steepness of the tympanogram peak close to
that peak (Fowler and Shanks 2002). Different manufacturers may use different
algorithms to derive this so use of the tympanometric width may be more
consistent and reliable.

Tympanometry. The measurement of acoustic impedance/ admittance (or of

related quantities such as compliance) as a function of air pressure in the
external ear.

Note on tympanometry: the terms impedance/ admittance audiometry, acoustic

admittance and immittance audiometry are depreciated.

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Appendix C. Units

Table 1
Comparison of units and those recommended for tympanometry.
Quantity Absolute Traditional unit Recommended
unit (SI) unit
Acoustic
impedance Pa s m–3 ohm (cgs) cm3 equiv. vol.

Acoustic
admittance m3 Pa–1 s–1 mho (cgs) cm3 equiv. vol.

Acoustic
compliance m3 Pa–1 cm3 equiv. vol. cm3 equiv. vol.

Relative air
pressure Pa mm water daPa

Notes on units:

At 226 Hz the acoustic admittance of a 1 cm3 air-filled cavity is

1.0 x 10–8 m3 Pa–1 (1.0 mmho, cgs) at standard atmospheric pressure
(1.013 x 105 Pa). This is not true at 1000 Hz, so cm3 equiv vol. should not be
used at this frequency; rather, use mmho.

A pressure of 1 mm water is equivalent to 0.98 daPa.

Appendix D. Effects of sweep speed and direction

Tympanometry overestimates ear canal volume by as much as 24–39 %
(Margolis and Smith, 1977; Moller, 1965; Rabinowitz, 1981; Shanks et al, 1988;
Vanpeperstraete et al, 1979). Using descending sweeps and slower sweep
speeds minimises this effect.

Tympanogram peak pressure can overestimate middle ear pressure by

30–70 daPa, particularly with small middle ear volumes or hypermobile tympanic
membranes (Eliachar and Northern, 1974; Flisberg et al, 1963; Renvall and
Holmquist, 1976), and when higher sweep speeds are used.

Hysteresis is the term for the displacement of the pressure peak in the direction
of the sweep, and is greater at higher sweep speeds.

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Appendix E. Examples of 1000-Hz tympanometry traces

Figure 3
Examples of 1000-Hz tympanograms classified as ‘normal’.

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Figure 4
Examples of 1000-Hz tympanograms classified as ‘abnormal’.

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