Robert H Margolis1, Brian C J Moore. 1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, USA. margo001@umn.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to measure the occlusion effect produced by three earphones-circumaural, supra-aural, and insert-and to compare air- and bone-conduction thresholds obtained with manual and automated methods for subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN: Acoustic and psychoacoustic occlusion effects were measured with each earphone. Manual and automated, air- and bone-conduction thresholds were compared. STUDY SAMPLE: Occlusion effects were measured for six adult subjects with normal external and middle ears. Pure-tone thresholds were measured for nineteen ears of thirteen subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. RESULTS: The supra-aural earphone produced the largest occlusion effects, followed by the insert and circumaural earphones. Some systematic differences in air-conduction thresholds were found for the two procedures that may be attributable to earphone differences. A large air-bone gap at 4 kHz, reported in a previous study, was replicated. CONCLUSIONS: From 0.5 to 8.0 kHz, occlusion effects produced by the circumaural earphone are sufficiently small that covering the ear does not appreciably alter bone-conduction thresholds. Air-conduction threshold differences warrant further study to determine if reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels for the two earphones produce equivalent thresholds. The large air-bone gap at 4 kHz suggests the possibility of an incorrect reference equivalent threshold force level at that frequency.
OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to measure the occlusion effect produced by three earphones-circumaural, supra-aural, and insert-and to compare air- and bone-conduction thresholds obtained with manual and automated methods for subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN: Acoustic and psychoacoustic occlusion effects were measured with each earphone. Manual and automated, air- and bone-conduction thresholds were compared. STUDY SAMPLE: Occlusion effects were measured for six adult subjects with normal external and middle ears. Pure-tone thresholds were measured for nineteen ears of thirteen subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. RESULTS: The supra-aural earphone produced the largest occlusion effects, followed by the insert and circumaural earphones. Some systematic differences in air-conduction thresholds were found for the two procedures that may be attributable to earphone differences. A large air-bone gap at 4 kHz, reported in a previous study, was replicated. CONCLUSIONS: From 0.5 to 8.0 kHz, occlusion effects produced by the circumaural earphone are sufficiently small that covering the ear does not appreciably alter bone-conduction thresholds. Air-conduction threshold differences warrant further study to determine if reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels for the two earphones produce equivalent thresholds. The large air-bone gap at 4 kHz suggests the possibility of an incorrect reference equivalent threshold force level at that frequency.
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