Document Type

Capstone Project

Publication Date

Fall 10-2021

First Advisor

Antony Joseph, MA., Au.D., Ph.D., ABAC, CCC-A, CPS/A, F-NAP

Keywords

Hearing Protection Devices, External Auditory Canal, Hearing Loss Prevention, Anthropometry

Disciplines

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Abstract

The anthropometrics of the external auditory canal (EAC) is clinically pertinent to producing effective custom hearing protection devices (HPD). If custom HPDs are incorrectly fit, they will not attenuate an appropriate level of sound, increasing the likelihood that the user might be exposed to hazardous intensity levels. Researchers have attempted to measure the EAC using a multitude of approaches. Research technology, called ear scanning, appears to provide the ability to measure the EAC effectively. This study was designed to identify a procedure to accomplish the following: (1) characterize the anthropometric differences between male and female external ears. (2) identify differences between digital-scan and physical-material of external ear impressions. (3) compare digital EAC scans to crude methods used for ear canal measurement. To explore each aim, an investigation of external ear anthropometry should be undertaken using virtual ear impression technology. Such studies are scant in the literature. A review of pertinent literature revealed that a gold standard for quantifying ear canal anthropometrics is unavailable. This finding persuaded a summation of the current literature associated with techniques used for quantifying ear canal anthropometry.

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