Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A modified polymer foam earplug for the hearing aid evaluation

I J Gerling, R J Roeser

    Ear and Hearing
    |March 1, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary

    A modified E-A-R polymer foam earplug and custom earmold provide equivalent functional gain for hearing aids. A stock earmold significantly reduced low-frequency amplification and caused feedback issues.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Callier Center for Communication Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas.

    American journal of audiology·2015
    Same author

    What Audiologists Must Know About Cerumen and Cerumen Management.

    American journal of audiology·2015
    Same author

    Management of hearing loss in infants: the UTD/Callier Center position statement.

    Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·2001
    Same author

    Hearing and ultrasound-assisted liposuction: the effect on surgeon and patient.

    Plastic and reconstructive surgery·2000
    Same author

    Physiology, pathophysiology, and anthropology/epidemiology of human earcanal secretions.

    Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·1998
    Same author

    Cerumen management: professional issues and techniques.

    Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·1998

    Area of Science:

    • Audiology
    • Hearing Aid Technology
    • Acoustics

    Background:

    • Hearing aid performance is influenced by earmold acoustics.
    • Optimizing earmold fit is crucial for effective amplification and user comfort.
    • Traditional stock earmolds may not always provide optimal acoustic coupling.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To compare the functional gain of hearing aids with three different earmold types.
    • To assess acoustic feedback potential and low-frequency amplification characteristics across conditions.
    • To evaluate the suitability of a modified E-A-R polymer foam earplug for hearing aid use.

    Main Methods:

    • Functional gain measurements were conducted on 12 subjects with three earmold conditions: modified E-A-R polymer foam earplug, custom earmold, and stock earmold.
    • Acoustic feedback thresholds were assessed by adjusting hearing aid gain controls.
    • Low-frequency amplification was analyzed for shunting effects.

    Main Results:

    • Functional gain was comparable between the modified E-A-R earplug and the custom earmold.
    • The stock earmold condition demonstrated significant shunting of low-frequency amplification.
    • Acoustic feedback occurred with the stock earmold at lower gain settings compared to the other two conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • The modified E-A-R polymer foam earplug offers a viable alternative to custom earmolds for hearing aid fitting, providing equivalent functional gain and feedback control.
    • Stock earmolds may compromise low-frequency amplification and feedback-free gain, necessitating careful consideration in hearing aid evaluations.
    • Earmold selection significantly impacts hearing aid performance, highlighting the importance of individualized fitting for optimal outcomes.

    Related Experiment Videos