Pure tone audiometry in noise with auraldomes

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Acoustics
• Hearing Science

Background:

• Standard audiometric testing uses TDH-39 earphones with MX-41/AR cushions.
• Circumaural enclosures like the Auraldome (AR-100-R) are alternatives for sound delivery.
• Investigating earphone performance in varying noise conditions is crucial for accurate hearing assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the pure tone thresholds obtained with a standard earphone cushion (MX-41/AR) and an Auraldome circumaural enclosure.
• To evaluate the impact of ambient broadband noise on the performance of both earphone types.
• To assess the calibration accuracy and noise-attenuating benefits of the Auraldome.

Main Methods:

• Pure tone thresholds were measured using TDH-39 drivers in both MX-41/AR and Auraldome enclosures.
• Testing was conducted in both quiet conditions and in the presence of broadband sound field noise at 50, 60, and 70 dB SPL.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare thresholds between the two earphone conditions across different noise levels.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in pure tone thresholds were found between the standard cushion and the Auraldome in any tested broadband noise level (50, 60, 70 dB SPL).
• However, statistically significant differences were observed in the quiet listening condition.
• These findings suggest potential issues with Auraldome intensity calibration.

Conclusions:

• The Auraldome circumaural enclosure does not offer a significant advantage over standard MX-41/AR cushions in broadband noise environments above 50 dB SPL.
• The observed differences in quiet conditions raise concerns about the precise intensity calibration of the Auraldome.
• Further research is needed to validate Auraldome calibration and its efficacy in audiological assessments.