Outer ear
Collects sound and guides it through the ear canal to the eardrum.
Hearing guide
Your hearing
Understand how hearing works, which signs to notice, and what an audiogram and tympanometry can reveal. A practical guide to help you choose the right next step.
Audiometri Timpanometri ORL
250–8000 Hzorientation test frequencies
How hearing works
From sound to the brain in four steps.
Hearing depends on the outer, middle and inner ear working together with the auditory nerve and brain.
Middle ear
The eardrum and tiny middle-ear bones transfer sound vibrations.
Inner ear
The cochlea converts vibrations into neural signals.
Brain
The auditory nerve sends information to the brain, where sound becomes meaningful.
Early signs
When is a hearing check worth considering?
Hearing changes often develop gradually. These signs are not a diagnosis, but they are good reasons to seek a professional assessment.
Conversation in noise
Speech seems unclear in restaurants, groups or other noisy settings.
Higher volume
TV or phone volume needs to be louder than others prefer.
Asking for repeats
You often ask people to repeat themselves or rely on lip reading.
Tinnitus or fullness
Ringing, pressure/fullness or a noticeable difference between ears should be checked.
Types of hearing loss
Hearing loss can originate in different parts of the system.
The likely site of the problem helps professionals choose the right tests and management.
Conductive
Sound transmission is reduced in the outer or middle ear.
Sensorineural
The inner ear or auditory nerve pathway is affected.
Mixed
Conductive and sensorineural components are both present.
Sudden hearing loss, especially in one ear, should be assessed promptly by an ENT specialist rather than treated as a routine appointment.
Hearing testCalibrated clinic assessment
Hearing test
Audiogram: a map of your hearing.
Pure-tone audiometry measures hearing thresholds across frequencies. The audiogram shows where hearing sensitivity changes and helps identify the degree and pattern of hearing loss.
Frequency (Hz)
The horizontal axis shows pitch, from low to high frequencies.
Intensity (dB HL)
The vertical axis shows the softest calibrated level heard at each test frequency.
Air & bone conduction
Comparing air and bone thresholds helps distinguish major types of hearing loss.
Hearing test
A simple guide to degree
Cut-offs vary slightly across clinical classification systems; a professional interprets the full test, not a single number.
0–20 dBWithin normal range
21–40 dBMild
41–55 dBModerate
56–70 dBModerately severe
71–90 dBSevere
91+ dBProfound
Middle ear
Tympanometry: an objective check of eardrum movement and pressure.
Tympanometry does not measure how well you hear. It measures how the eardrum and middle ear respond while air pressure changes in the ear canal, producing a tympanogram.
Typical function
A peak near normal pressure is generally consistent with typical middle-ear function.
Flat trace
May occur with middle-ear fluid or a perforation; interpretation also considers ear-canal volume.
Negative pressure
May indicate negative middle-ear pressure, often related to Eustachian tube dysfunction.
When is it useful?
- Ear pressure, pain or fullness
- Repeated ear infections or suspected middle-ear fluid
- Hearing assessment in children
- When the audiogram suggests a conductive component
Audiometri + Timpanometri
Audiometry and tympanometry answer different questions.
AudiometriaTimpanometria
What it measures
Hearing threshold
Middle-ear function
Test type
Requires a patient response
Objective
Result
Audiogram
Tympanogram
Main use
Degree and pattern of hearing loss
Eardrum mobility and middle-ear pressure
Information sources: Otofon – Dëgjimi Juaj · Otofon – Audiograma · Otofon – Timpanometria · ASHA · NIDCD
This page summarizes Otofon educational materials and general audiology guidance. It does not replace medical diagnosis or advice.