With every hearing test, our audiologist runs a tympanogram. This measures the mobility of the eardrum and can give an indicator of middle ear health. A nice, healthy middle ear gives a "Type A" tympanogram, with a nice peak to indicate the eardrum is functioning properly. I actually only have one tympanogram with this configuration- this example is from Nolan's right ear during a relatively fluid-free period of time. This was also shortly after his second PE tube fell out of the right ear.
Nolan's right ear: possibly the only normal tymp. he's had.
The second type of Tympanogram is a "Type B," and is flat. This can mean fluid, or a perforation. When Nolan's right ear dropped to a hearing level of 80dB in December 2008, his tympanogram looked like this:
Type B tympanogram in a very fluid filled ear
Not all "Type B" tympanograms are bad. Nolan's healthy left ear always displays a "Type B" tympanogram, because it has an intact PE tube. A child with a PE tube will display a flat tymp. with a large Ear Volume. The volume lets us know that the tube is in place and functioning as it should. The tympanogram is a good way of checking up on the status of his tubes:
Type B tympanogram with a patent PE tube.
Hopefully our hearing test tomorrow will show a return to our June 2009 hearing levels. If we see a decline in hearing ability, a tympanogram will be run again to verify a healthy middle ear.
I have my fingers crossed for good hearing levels and a nice "Type A" tympanogram!
3 comments:
Queen Teen still has her tonsils and adnoids. There was some debate about whether or not she needed them removed. Is there a reason you ENT wants your son's removed?
Basically, chronic fluid and suspected sleep apnea. I'm really debating the whole thing- it is quite stressful. Nolan has had enough procedures that have required sedation (two sets of PE tubes, ablation of posterior urethral valves, MRI, CT scan, and upper endoscopy/24 hour pH probe placement- so that makes six sedations so far).
We're doing a sleep study before we make any decisions, but I really don't want to do it unless it is absolutely necessary. The chronic fluid wreaks havoc with his hearing, and they don't compensate for the fluctuating conductive issues (his hearing has dropped to a flat 80dB with fluid in the past).
Hope Nolan gets a nice healthy tymph tomorrow! I had a tymph done for my right ear on the 10th of this month, I never knew what it really was for but it was like A, the mountain shape!! Hope Buffalo goes well!
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