Tympanometry

- Executive Summary

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. (strong recommendation).
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. (strong recommendation).
The subject should be seated comfortably and should remain as still as possible during the test. (strong recommendation)
Young children may need to be held by an appropriate adult, which should be the person responsible for the child. (conditional recommendation)

Tympanometry shall be preceded by otoscopic examination to ensure that there are no contraindications to continue. (strong recommendation)

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. (conditional recommendation)

Subjects with age over 6 months, using a 226-Hz probe tone is recommended (Strong recommendation)

Subjects with a corrected age under 6 months using a 1000-Hz probe tone. (strong recommendation)

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. (Strong recommendation)