What does immittance audiometry measure?

Immittance audiometry is primarily concerned with assessing the condition and functionality of the middle ear system. It involves measuring the admittance or impedance of the tympanic membrane and the middle ear structures in response to variations in air pressure. These measurements help in evaluating how well the sound energy is transmitted through the middle ear.

By assessing the middle ear's response to sound, immittance audiometry can identify issues such as fluid in the middle ear, eustachian tube dysfunction, or otosclerosis, which are critical for understanding the health of the auditory pathway before sound reaches the inner ear.

In contrast, hearing sensitivity and pure tone thresholds pertain to the ability to detect sounds of varying frequencies and volumes, which are measured through different audiometric tests. Speech recognition tests evaluate how well an individual can understand spoken language, which is distinct from the function of the middle ear that immittance audiometry assesses. Thus, the primary focus of immittance audiometry is encapsulated in measuring the integrity and function of the middle ear system.