Acoustic intensity, impedance and reflection coefficient in the human ear canal

The sound power per unit cross-sectional area was determined in human ear canals using a new method based on measuring the pressure distribution (P) along the length of variable cross-section acoustic waveguides. The technique provides the pressure/power reflection coefficients (R/R) as well as the acoustic intensity of the nonplanar incident wave (I+, the acoustic input to the ear) and the nonplanar outgoing wave (I-, the acoustic output of the ear). Results were compared to the classical acoustic impedance (Z) and associated plane-wave power reflection coefficient (R(Z)). Performance of the method was investigated theoretically using horn equation simulations and evaluated experimentally using pressure data recorded in nonuniform waveguides. The method was applied in normal-hearing young adults to determine ear-canal position- and frequency-dependence of I(+/-), R, and R(Z) using random phase broadband stimuli (1-15 kHz; approximately 75 dB SPL). Reflection coefficient (R) measurements at two different locations within individual human ear canals exhibited a position dependence averaging deltaR approximately 0.1 (over 6 mm distance)--a difference consistent with predictions of inviscid acoustics in nonuniform waveguides. Since this position dependence was relatively small, an "optimized" position-independent reflection coefficient was defined to facilitate practical application and intersubject comparisons.