title: The active earcanal.
abstract: In the past, the human earcanal has primarily been thought of as a passive conduit for sound. Several studies, reported here, explored evidence of how active the earcanal is. The "active earcanal" is conceptualized and aspects of it are viewed through three timeframes: jaw-induced canal change in seconds/minutes, cerumen production in weeks/months, and aging in years. The influence of each of these aspects on hearing aid performance and resulting patient satisfaction is explored. A new self-assessment tool, a Profile of Hearing Aid Physical Fit, is proposed that focuses on measuring patients' perceptions of those benefits that depend on the interface between earcanal and hearing aid.
authors.affiliation: Hearing Components, Inc., Oakdale, Minnesota 55128, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002571:Cerumen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors