A change in a surface of a wall is detected by transmitting a pulse of input ultrasonic vibrations into a proximal surface of the wall and then receiving ultrasonic vibrations from that proximal surface. The received ultrasonic vibrations are compared with a previously detected pulse of output ultrasonic vibrations that have been received from the proximal surface in order to identify, for example, a time of arrival of a current pulse of output ultrasonic vibrations. The time of arrival of this current pulse of output of ultrasonic vibrations may be used to detect a change in the surface of the wall, such as a change in the thickness of the wall. Other embodiments can detect a change in the roughness profile of the wall using changes in the received ultrasonic vibrations other than arrival time.