Comparison of probe insertion methods on estimates of ear canal SPL

Real-ear sound pressure levels (SPLs) were compared among three methods used for positioning a probe microphone in the ear canal. The probe insertion techniques included (1) an acoustic method that incorporates use of the quarter-wave anti-resonance property of the ear to determine acoustically the location of the probe tube relative to the eardrum; (2) a constant insertion depth method (25 mm from the intratragal notch); and (3) the earmold +5-mm method, which places the probe 5 mm beyond the tip of the earmold, thereby avoiding problems associated with the transition region where sound exits from the bore of the earmold into the larger ear canal. Measurements were obtained at 32 test frequencies in 24 adults with normal middle ear impedance. Results indicated that the SPLs measured by the acoustic method were modestly higher than those measured by the other two methods. This result was most evident in subjects with long ear canals (> 25 mm) and at high test frequencies (3.0 to 6.3 kHz).