title: Vent configurations on subjective and objective occlusion effect.
abstract: The current study reexamined the effect of vent diameters on objective and subjective occlusion effect (OE) while minimizing two possible sources of variability. Nine hearing-impaired participants with primarily a high-frequency hearing loss were evaluated. Laser shell-making technology was used to make ear inserts of completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids for the study. This was to minimize any potential slit leakage from the inserts. The vent dimensions were systematically altered during the study. Participants sustained /i/ for 5 sec, and the real-ear occluded response was measured with a custom-made program that performed frequency averaging to reduce response variability. Participants also repeated the phrase "Baby Jeannie is teeny tiny" and rated their own voice. The results showed a systematic change in the objective OE and subjective ratings of OE as the vent diameter was modified. Furthermore, a significant correlation was seen between subjective rating and objective occlusion effect.
authors.affiliation: Widex Office of Research in Clinical Amplification, Widex Hearing Aid Company, Lisle, IL 60532, USA. Fkuk@widexmail.com
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kuk
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Chi-chuen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000368:Aged; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*