What is the purpose of tympanometry during an ear assessment?

Tympanometry serves a specific purpose in evaluating ear health, particularly in assessing the function of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and middle ear structures. During this test, variations in air pressure are applied to the ear canal, allowing the evaluation of how well the eardrum moves in response to these pressure changes. This movement can reveal several important characteristics about the middle ear, such as the presence of fluid behind the tympanic membrane, the mobility of the eardrum, and potential issues like eustachian tube dysfunction.

This information is crucial because it helps healthcare providers identify conditions such as otitis media (middle ear infection), eustachian tube blockages, or other issues affecting the middle ear and its ability to conduct sound properly. The other options do not pertain to the primary objective of tympanometry. Evaluating hearing thresholds focuses on auditory function rather than pressure-related changes in the ear, earwax buildup is typically assessed through visual inspection or other methods rather than tympanometry, and balance measurement is not the aim of this test but rather falls under vestibular assessments.