[Artificial mastoid device for calibrating bone telephones in an extended frequency range]

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Acoustics

Context:

• Bone conduction hearing aids require precise calibration.
• Existing calibration devices lack adequate mechanical impedance matching.
• Accurate audiometry is crucial for diagnosing hearing loss.

Purpose:

• To develop and describe an artificial mastoid instrument.
• To achieve impedance matching with human skull mechanical properties.
• To enable calibration of osteal (bone) telephones.

Summary:

• The artificial mastoid is designed for calibrating bone conduction devices from 0.1 to 15 kHz.
• Its operating surface impedance closely matches the mechanical impedance of the human parotid region and forehead.
• This ensures accurate calibration across the entire operating frequency range.

Impact:

• Facilitates more reliable audiometric testing using bone conduction.
• Enables extended frequency range audiometry for osteal sound conductivity assessment.
• Improves the accuracy and consistency of hearing aid calibration.