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
› Institutsangaben

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.

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.




Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 14. Juni 2020

Angenommen: 25. Mai 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
17. Februar 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
  • 2 Teie PU. Ear-coupler acoustics in receiver-in-the-aid fittings. Hearing Rev 2009; 10-16
  • 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
  • 4 Dillon H. Hearing Aids. 2nd ed.. New York: Thieme; 2012
  • 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
  • 6 Fulton B, Martin L. Drilling a vent often fails to give relief from occlusion. Hear J 2006; 59: 40-45
  • 7 Stevenson D, Searchfield G, Xu X. Spatial design of hearing AIDS incorporating multiple vents. Trends Hear 2014; 18: 1-10
  • 8 Kuk F, Keenan D. How do vents affect hearing aid performance?. Hearing Rev 2006; 34-42
  • 9 Conrad S, Rout A. Perceived occlusion and comfort in receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids. Am J Audiol 2013; 22 (02) 283-290
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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