Research was conducted on twenty-seven preoperative myringotomy patients to clarify the correlation between tympanometry type and the presence of middle ear effusion. Test results indicate that the relationship between tympanometry and middle ear effusion is dependent on the amount of fluid present. In impacted ears primarily Type B tympanograms were obtained whereas for less than impacted ears all tympanogram types were seen. Also suggested was that a combination of height of the tympanogram and the amount of negative pressure may be diagnostically more important than negative pressure alone as an indicator of effusion. It was recommended that other measures in addition to tympanometry be employed in the diagnosis of middle ear effusion and that further research is needed to achieve optimal use of impedance audiometry.