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Comparing Low-Frequency Hearing Thresholds between Insert Earphones and Headphones in Ears with Tympanic Membrane

Anna Hsu1, Sarah H Al Nemer1, Peter Kfoury1

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA.

OTO Open
|February 13, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric patients with tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs) showed higher hearing thresholds at low frequencies when using insert earphones compared to supra-aural headphones. This finding necessitates caution when diagnosing hearing loss with insert earphones in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Audiology
  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Accurate hearing threshold assessment is crucial for pediatric audiological diagnosis.
  • Tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs) can affect sound transmission and audiological test results.
  • Different headphone types may yield varying results in patients with middle ear abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare hearing thresholds at 250 and 500 Hz in pediatric patients with TMPs using insert earphones versus supra-aural headphones.
  • To evaluate the impact of TMPs on hearing threshold measurements obtained with different transducer types.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective clinical pilot study was conducted at Primary Children's Hospital, Utah.
  • Pediatric patients (<18 years) were enrolled into two groups: those with and without TMPs.
  • Hearing thresholds at 250 and 500 Hz were measured using RadioEar IP30 insert earphones and RadioEar TDH50s 3045 supra-aural headphones.

Main Results:

  • In pediatric patients with TMPs, hearing thresholds at 250 Hz were significantly higher (14.7 ± 7.2 dB, P < .001) with insert earphones than with supra-aural headphones.
  • At 500 Hz, thresholds were also significantly higher (8.0 ± 7.5 dB, P < .01) with insert earphones in the TMP group.
  • No significant difference was observed in patients without TMPs.

Conclusions:

  • Low-frequency hearing thresholds are significantly elevated when measured with insert earphones in pediatric patients with TMPs.
  • Audiological diagnoses of low-frequency hearing loss using insert earphones require careful interpretation in the presence of TMPs.
  • Supra-aural headphones may provide more reliable low-frequency threshold measurements in pediatric patients with TMPs.
Abstract

Keywords:
insert earphoneslow‐frequency hearing thresholdspediatricsupra‐aural headphonestransducerstympanic membrane perforation

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