폐쇄효과(occlusion effect)는 청각손실자가 귓속 보청기 또는 귀꽂이를 착용하고 말을 할 때 자신의 목소리가 울려서 들리거나, 불쾌감, 압박감, 답답함 등으로 표현하는 것으로 보청기의 음질 또는 단어인 지도 등에 나쁜 영향을 주며, 보청기 착용 시 적응에 실패하는 원인이 되기도 한다(Dillon, 2001; Dillon et al., 1999; Muller et al., 1996).
Authors tried to find out acoustic and psychoacoustic changes of occlusion effects (OEs) in completely-in-the canal (CIC) hearing aid with 0.8 mm vent as a function of with/without vent and bony part lengths (BLs). 28 adults with normal hearing (mean ages; 24.4 years) were participated as subjects. OEs were measured by real-ear insertion gain (REIG) with CIC hearing aid when producing a vowel 'ee'. Also self questionnaires were measured. The findings were as follows; first, there were no significant differences between with and without vent. Second, when BL was increased, REIG was decreased in 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 Hz. Third, when BL was increased 2 to 8 mm, psychoacoustic OE was decreased. For improving OE in CIC hearing aid with 0.8 mm, BL should be over 6 mm in averages.
INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSIONS CONCLUSIONS
