Download PDF
J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32(09): 556-561
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1732439
Research Article

The Frequency Characteristic of Silicone Domes in Receiver in the Canal Hearing Aids

Masafumi Ueno
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
2   Department of Otolaryngology, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
,
Seiichi Shinden
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
2   Department of Otolaryngology, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
,
Daisuke Suzuki
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
2   Department of Otolaryngology, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
,
Noriomi Suzuki
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
3   Department of Otolaryngology, National Hospital Organization Tochigi Medical Center, Tochigi, Japan
,
Takanori Nishiyama
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
4   Department of Otolaryngology, Kawasaki Municipal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
,
Naoki Oishi
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Kaoru Ogawa
1   Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background There are several types of silicone domes in receiver in the canal hearing aids (RICs), which have different occlusion levels. However, the frequency characteristics of each type of silicone dome are unclear.

Purpose This study aimed to determine the frequency characteristics of three types of silicone domes (open domes, double-type power domes, and tulip domes) in RICs.

Research Design This is an interventional study.

Study Sample In total, 11 participants with a normal sense of hearing were prospectively enrolled.

Intervention Participants were fitted with hearing aids, which were adjusted to similar settings, and only the silicone domes were changed. The acoustic gain of hearing aids was adjusted to 20 dB in the range of 250 Hz to 4 kHz using the 2-cc coupler.

Data Collection and Analysis We measured the real-ear aided gain (REAG) for each type of silicone dome. In each frequency, we statistically compared the REAG of each type of dome. Acoustic gain using the Open Fit coupler of each type of dome was also measured.

Results The REAG was obtained with no leakage with open domes only at 2 kHz, and with tulip domes and double-type power domes in the range of 1 to 2 kHz. Double-type power domes obtained significantly higher REAG than tulip domes at 250 and 500 Hz. Under the Open Fit coupler, all types obtained higher acoustic gain than the REAG.

Conclusion This study provides the analysis of the frequency characteristics of silicone domes in RICs. The highest degree of occlusion was observed in double-type power domes, followed by tulip domes, and the lowest was observed in open domes.

Keywords

hearing aid - vent diameter - receiver in the canal - silicone dome - real-ear aided gain

Meeting Presentation

This study was presented at the 57th Congress of Japan Audiological Society.


Disclaimer

Any mention of a product, service, or procedure in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology does not constitute an endorsement of the product, service, or procedure by the American Academy of Audiology.




Publication History

Received: 14 June 2020

Accepted: 25 May 2021

Article published online:
17 February 2022

© 2022. American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 Abrams HB, Kihm J. An introduction to MarkeTrak IX: a new baseline for the hearing aid market. Hearing Rev 2015; 22: 16-21
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Teie PU. Ear-coupler acoustics in receiver-in-the-aid fittings. Hearing Rev 2009; 10-16
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Carle R, Laugesen S, Nielsen C. Observations on the relations among occlusion effect, compliance, and vent size. J Am Acad Audiol 2002; 13 (01) 25-37
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Dillon H. Hearing Aids. 2nd ed.. New York: Thieme; 2012
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Kiessling J, Brenner B, Jespersen CT, Groth J, Jensen OD. Occlusion effect of earmolds with different venting systems. J Am Acad Audiol 2005; 16 (04) 237-249
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Fulton B, Martin L. Drilling a vent often fails to give relief from occlusion. Hear J 2006; 59: 40-45
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Stevenson D, Searchfield G, Xu X. Spatial design of hearing AIDS incorporating multiple vents. Trends Hear 2014; 18: 1-10
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Kuk F, Keenan D. How do vents affect hearing aid performance?. Hearing Rev 2006; 34-42
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Conrad S, Rout A. Perceived occlusion and comfort in receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids. Am J Audiol 2013; 22 (02) 283-290
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Gazia F, Galletti B, Portelli D. et al. Real ear measurement (REM) and auditory performances with open, tulip and double closed dome in patients using hearing aids. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 277 (05) 1289-1295
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Norrix LW, Van Tasell D, Ross J, Harris FP, Dean J. Modeling the influence of acoustic coupling of hearing aids on FM signal-to-noise ratio. Am J Audiol 2015; 24 (02) 178-187
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Koning R, Wouters J, Francart T. Comparison of psychophysical and physical measurements of real ear to coupler differences. Ear Hear 2015; 36 (05) 543-549
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Aazh H, Moore BC, Prasher D. The accuracy of matching target insertion gains with open-fit hearing aids. Am J Audiol 2012; 21 (02) 175-180
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Winkler A, Latzel M, Holube I. Open versus closed hearing-aid fittings: a literature review of both fitting approaches. Trends Hear 2016; 20: 1-13
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Jespersen CT, Møller KN. Reliability of real ear insertion gain in behind-the-ear hearing aids with different coupling systems to the ear canal. Int J Audiol 2013; 52 (03) 169-176
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Methods of Measurement of Real-Ear Performance Characteristics of Hearing Aids, ANSI S3.46-2013. New York, NY: ANSI; 2013
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Munro KJ, Salisbury VA. Is the real-ear to coupler difference independent of the measurement earphone?. Int J Audiol 2002; 41 (07) 408-413
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Ricketts TA, Bentler R, Mueller HG. Electroacoustic and other quality control techniques. In: Stach BA. ed. Essentials of Modern Hearing Aids. San Diego: Plural Publishing; 2019: 473-516
    Google Scholar