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Related Experiment Videos

Relationship between earmould venting, comfort and feedback.

K MacKenzie1, G G Browning, L G McClymont

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary.

British Journal of Audiology
|November 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Earmould venting in hearing aids does not increase discomfort, moisture, or itchiness. However, venting significantly reduces the sensation of blockage, improving hearing aid comfort.

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Area of Science:

  • Audiology
  • Hearing Aid Technology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Earmoulds are crucial components of hearing aids, designed to improve comfort and acoustic performance.
  • The role of earmould venting in enhancing user comfort and mitigating common issues like occlusion is widely assumed but lacks robust clinical evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of earmould venting on user comfort, moisture, and itchiness in hearing aid users.
  • To quantify the effect of different vent sizes (0.8 mm and 2 mm) on the sensation of blockage.
  • To assess the potential for vent-induced feedback in behind-the-ear hearing aids.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, sequential-fit study involving 106 patients.
  • Patients were fitted with three types of earmoulds: unvented, 0.8 mm vented, and 2 mm vented.

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  • Discomfort, moisture, and itchiness were assessed after each trial period using patient-reported outcomes.
  • A separate study evaluated feedback potential with a 2 mm vent and specific hearing aid gain settings.

    • Main Results:

    • No significant differences in overall discomfort, moisture, or itchiness were found across unvented, 0.8 mm vented, and 2 mm vented earmoulds.
    • A 0.8 mm vent significantly reduced the sensation of blockage from 35% to 22% (P < 0.05).
    • A 2 mm vent further reduced the sensation of blockage to 13% (P < 0.001).
    • A 2 mm vent may cause feedback in approximately 10% of patients with behind-the-ear aids when gain is 42 dB or greater.

    Conclusions:

    • Earmould venting does not negatively impact comfort, moisture, or itchiness in hearing aid users.
    • Venting, particularly with 0.8 mm and 2 mm sizes, is effective in reducing the sensation of ear canal blockage.
    • While feedback is a potential concern with larger vents (2 mm), it is manageable and specific to higher gain settings.