Øregangen er smal. Ikke desto mindre fortsetter hørselstesten.

Because Norwegian often makes compound nouns by joining words together.

• øre = ear
• gang = passage, canal
• øregang = ear canal
• øregangen = the ear canal

The -en at the end is the definite ending for many masculine nouns, so øregangen literally means the ear canal.

Because øregangen is a masculine singular noun in the definite form.

In Norwegian, adjectives agree with the noun:

• en smal øregang = a narrow ear canal
• øregangen er smal = the ear canal is narrow
• et smalt rom = a narrow room

You use smal, not smalt, because the noun is not neuter.

In Norwegian, definiteness is often shown by an ending attached to the noun.

• øregang = ear canal

• øregangen = the ear canal

• hørselstest = hearing test
• hørselstesten = the hearing test

So English uses a separate article (the), but Norwegian usually puts definiteness on the noun itself.

Ikke desto mindre means nevertheless, nonetheless, or even so.

It is correct Norwegian, but it sounds a bit more formal or written than some other options. In everyday speech, many speakers might more naturally say:

• Likevel
• Allikevel
• Like fullt (less common, somewhat formal)

So this sentence could also be:

• Øregangen er smal. Likevel fortsetter hørselstesten.

That would sound more natural in ordinary conversation.

This is because of the Norwegian V2 rule: the finite verb normally comes in the second position in main clauses.

In Ikke desto mindre fortsetter hørselstesten:

1. Ikke desto mindre is placed first.
2. Therefore the verb fortsetter must come next.
3. Then comes the subject hørselstesten.

So the word order is:

• Ikke desto mindre = first element
• fortsetter = finite verb in second position
• hørselstesten = subject

If the subject came first, you would get:

• Hørselstesten fortsetter.

Both are correct, but they have different emphasis.

The base form is hørselstest.

It is another compound noun:

• hørsel = hearing
• test = test
• hørselstest = hearing test
• hørselstesten = the hearing test

So the sentence is talking about a specific hearing test.

Yes. Fortsetter is the present tense of fortsette, meaning to continue.

Depending on context, it could be translated as:

• continues
• goes on
• proceeds

In this sentence, continues or goes on would both fit well.

Norwegian often uses short, clear sentences, especially in medical, technical, or formal contexts.

So:

• Øregangen er smal. Ikke desto mindre fortsetter hørselstesten.

sounds direct and clinical.

It could also be written as one sentence:

• Øregangen er smal, men hørselstesten fortsetter likevel.

That version feels a little more connected and slightly less formal.

Smal is correct and understandable, but depending on context, another word might sometimes sound more idiomatic.

Possible alternatives:

• smal = narrow
• trang = tight, cramped, narrow in a more restricted sense

In a medical context, trang øregang is also common and may sound more natural if the idea is that the ear canal is physically tight or constricted.

So both can work, but the nuance is slightly different.

It has a somewhat formal, written, or clinical tone.

A native speaker would likely understand it as something like:

• The ear canal is narrow.
• Even so, the hearing test continues.

Because of Ikke desto mindre, it sounds a bit more elevated than everyday speech. If the goal were a more natural spoken style, Norwegian would often prefer:

• Øregangen er smal. Likevel fortsetter hørselstesten.

or even:

• Øregangen er smal, men testen fortsetter likevel.

So the original sentence is grammatically fine, but stylistically a little formal.