[Technopathic hearing loss and open fitting]

The purpose of this study is to value the advantage of open fitting ear-moulds in tecnopathic ipoacusies. The study was conducted on a sample of 70 tecnopathic ipoacusics with a hearing loss in the high wave frequencies (4000-8000 Hz) ammounting to at least 50 dB; 20 of which already using ear-moulds. To all of them was applied, for three weeks, an open fitting ear-mould. At the beginning and at the end of the study, the sample was given a questionary to fill out. The analysis of the questionnaries has proven that among the 20 tecnopathics already using ear-moulds: A) 16 subjects have a marked preference for the open fitting ear-moulds, B) 3 did not encounter differences between the two types of ear-moulds, C) 1 declared a better adaptability to the previous ear-moulds. Over all, in the 70 subjects examined, this research's results allow us to conclude that: the use of open fitting ear-moulds improves the quality of the natural sound of one's own voice, the natural quality of sounds, and the hearing of speech in the presence of other noises, while reducing irritation of the auditory cortex.