Is diagnostic testing the same as a hearing test?

No. A hearing test measures what you hear. Diagnostic tests such as tympanometry measure how the middle ear and hearing pathway function. They answer different questions.

What does tympanometry show?

How the eardrum responds to changes in air pressure. It can indicate fluid build-up in the middle ear or a eustachian tube that is not working as it should.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed for a HearMed hearing test. We see ages 12 and over.

How long does testing take?

A full clinic hearing test takes about 45 to 60 minutes. The audiologist will say if diagnostic measurements are needed for your situation.

What happens after the tests?

We explain the results in plain language and set out next steps, whether that is monitoring, wax removal, hearing aids, or advice to see your GP.

Call 057 934 9388

Diagnostic hearing testing: looking beyond the audiogram

A standard hearing test shows how well you hear. Sometimes we need to know more: how well the middle ear is working, how the eardrum moves, and how the hearing pathway responds to loud sounds. That is what diagnostic hearing testing adds.

At HearMed we use the NATUS Madsen Zodiac, an advanced tympanometer chosen because it is highly accurate, so these measurements are reliable.

Reviewed by Rose Multaney and Rauri Keogh, HearMed audiologists · Updated 10 September 2026

Close view of an otoscope light in an adult ear during an examination — Photo by Kaboompics on Pexels

Tympanometry

Tympanometry shows us how well your middle ear is working. The test examines the eardrum's mobility (the tympanic membrane) by measuring how the eardrum responds to changes in air pressure.

It helps us assess conditions such as fluid build-up in the middle ear, and it shows whether the eustachian tube is working as it should.

Acoustic reflexes

Acoustic reflex testing measures the muscle contraction in the middle ear that happens as a response to loud sounds.

This test helps us evaluate how the auditory pathway is working as a whole, giving important information about your middle ear and the auditory nerve.

The equipment we use

We have invested in the NATUS Madsen Zodiac, an advanced tympanometer, because accurate diagnostic technology matters. Precise, reliable measurement is what lets us pinpoint potential issues rather than guess.

Who reads your results

Our audiologists are fully trained in carrying out diagnostic hearing tests and interpreting the results accurately.

We take a comprehensive approach: we examine all angles of your hearing health, so you get a clear overview of where things stand and, where needed, a treatment plan built on the full picture.

How to book

Start with a free HearMed hearing test, which takes about 45 to 60 minutes and needs no referral for anyone aged 12 or over. When middle-ear measurements are needed, we carry them out with the Zodiac tympanometer.

Book online, or call the national line on 0818 058 058. Full-time clinics in Tullamore, Portlaoise and Portumna, with set-day clinics in Newbridge, Templemore and Athenry.

Questions people actually ask

Tullamore, Portlaoise and Portumna

Book a free hearing test

Call the local number, send a WhatsApp, or leave your number. No referral.

057 934 9388