Quantifying air-conducted acoustic radiation from the bone-conduction vibrator.

Sound pressure levels in the external auditory canals of 50 subjects were measured at 2000 and 4000 Hz with a bone-conduction vibrator on the forehead, the mastoid ipsilateral to the probe microphone, and the mastoid contralateral to the probe microphone. A plug was placed in the external auditory canal to minimize sound pressure levels in the external auditory canal produced by the osseotympanic mode of bone conduction. Results suggest that clinically significant false air-bone gaps (greater than 10 dB) due to acoustic radiation into the concha from the bone-conduction vibrator are most likely to occur at 4000 Hz when the bone-conduction vibrator is placed on the mastoid of the test ear. To minimize the possible confounding effects of acoustic radiation, the bone-conduction vibrator may be placed on the forehead or the mastoid contralateral to the test ear while masking the nontest ear.