wideband-tympanometry-testing

TYMPANOMETERS 

A tympanometer gives hearing care professionals the ability to assess middle ear function. GSI tympanometers include fully clinical and diagnostic instruments, screening devices with limited testing capabilities, handheld or portable options, and combination devices that have more than one modality.

The type of tympanometer used in each facility depends on the patient population and specific testing needs. A clinical tympanometer will be the most versatile and includes predefined test types such as tympanometry with multiple probe tones, Y, B, and G immittance options, reflex threshold testing, reflex decay, ARLT, Multi Hz, and ETF tests (intact, patent, patulous). A diagnostic tympanometer will allow for basic tympanometry, ipsilateral acoustic reflex testing, and sometimes have the option to upgrade to specific special tests such as contralateral reflex testing or additional probe tones. A screening tympanometer are limited to basic testing capabilities like tympanometry and acoustic reflexes.

GSI TYMPANOMETERS

GSI currently has three tympanometer options available. The GSI TympStar Pro™ is a clinical tympanometer that offers comprehensive middle ear testing that supports the needs of hearing healthcare professionals. The GSI Allegro™ is a handheld screening tympanometer ready to provide tympanometry and ipsilateral reflexes on the go. The GSI 39™ is a flexible combination screener for tympanometry with an option to add on audiometry testing. Select a product below to learn more!

  • Tympstar Pro clinical tympanometer from Grason-Stadler

    TympStar Pro
  • GSI Allegro handheld screening tympanometer from Grason-Stadler

    Allegro
  • GSI 39 tympanometer and audiometer from Grason-Stadler

    GSI 39
Tympanometry testing on a patient with the GSI 39

TYMPANOMETER BASICS

Find more educational materials about tympanometry by visiting GSI Education.

WHAT DOES BASIC TYMPANOMETRY TESTING INCLUDE?

Tympanometry is the graphic representation of the acoustic mechanical function of the middle ear. The tympanometer changes the pressure in the ear canal and measures the resulting movements of the tympanic membrane. Tympanometry can be performed for screening or diagnostic purposes. Middle ear testing assists in determining the site of lesion of a hearing problem.

WHAT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS ARE TYMPANOMETERS USED IN?

Tympanometers are used by hearing care professionals in facilities where hearing testing is performed. This may include clinical settings, academic institutions, or health offices. Diagnostic tympanometers are used in an environment that is appropriate for detailed middle ear testing and can be found in the offices of audiologists and ENT physicians, hospitals, medical centers, and universities. Screening tympanometers are very portable and can be used in a variety of environments such as schools, physicians’ offices, or other healthcare clinics.

WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE OF PATIENTS THAT MAY NEED TYMPANOMETRY TESTING?

Hearing healthcare professionals perform tympanometry on patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatrics. Tympanometry is used on infants and children to confirm ear infections and fluid in the middle ear. A complete middle ear evaluation, including tympanometry, will be performed on adult patients to verify acoustic mechanical function of the middle ear system and neural integrity.

WHAT WILL A TYMPANOGRAM TELL YOU?

The tympanometer presents results in a graph called a tympanogram. The tympanogram provides an objective evaluation of the middle ear and includes measurements of peak air pressure, eardrum compliance, and ear canal volume, which will assist in the interpretation of the tympanogram. These measurements help identify or rule out middle ear disorders such as fluid buildup, a middle ear infection, or a perforated eardrum, that could contribute to hearing loss.

TYMPANOMETER COMPARISON CHART


PRACTICE TYPE TYMPSTAR PRO GSI 39 ALLEGRO
Private Practice ✔
 ✔
 ✔
ENT Clinic ✔
 
Cochlear Implant Center ✔

Pediatric ✔
 ✔
  
Hearing Aid Dispenser    ✔
 ✔
Satellite Clinic   ✔
 ✔
Hospital ✔
    
University ✔
Veterans Affairs ✔
  
Supervise 4th Year/Rotation ✔
  
EXAM OPTIONS TYMPSTAR PRO GSI 39 ALLEGRO
Screening ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Diagnostic ✔
    
 Reflex Threshold ✔
    
Reflex Decay ✔
    
ETF - Intact and Perforated ✔
    
ETF - Patulous ✔
 
Multi-Hz ✔
 
ARLT ✔

Screening AC Audiometry   ✔
  
HARDWARE TYMPSTAR PRO GSI 39 ALLEGRO
 Printer Optional  ✔
 ✔
External Monitor Optional  
Contra Transducer Phone ✔
 ✔
  
Probe Controls for Testing ✔

TYMPANOMETRY TYMPSTAR PRO GSI 39 ALLEGRO
 Screening Tympanometry ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Screening 1000 Hz ✔
 Optional  
Diagnostic 226 Hz ✔
    
Diagnostic 678Hz ✔
    
Diagnostic 1000 Hz ✔
    
Auto-Start ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Sweep Speed Adjustments ✔
    
Display Y/B/G Values ✔
    
Wide Pressure Range ✔
    
Manual Pressure Control ✔
    
Gradient Displayed ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Jerger and User-Defined Tymp Types ✔
    
Screening Reflex – Ipsilateral ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Screening Reflex – Contralateral ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Reflex Threshold 226, 678, 1000 Hz ✔
    
Multi Plex Pulsed Tone for Reflex ✔
    
Click Stimulus for Reflex ✔
    
Noise Stimulus for Reflex ✔
    
Broadband Noise for Reflex ✔
    
Reflex Decay 226, 678, 1000 Hz ✔
    
User-Defined Screening Protocols ✔
 ✔
 ✔
User-Defined Diagnostic Protocols ✔
    
User-Defined Auto Sequence ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Normative Display ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Custom Start/Stop Levels ✔
   ✔
Audiometry   ✔
  
Auto-Store Sessions to Device ✔
 ✔
 ✔
Internal Memory 100 Sessions 12 Sessions 32 Sessions
GSI Suite/Noah Compatible ✔
 ✔
  
Direct Print ✔
 ✔
 ✔