Insert ear-probe assembly for high-quality otoacoustic-emission (OAE) measurements in adults

Recently there has been a push to get otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing into adult hearing-conservation programs, because the early stages of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and susceptibility to NIHL, can be detected with OAEs. OAEs are sounds made by healthy inner ears in response to acoustic stimulation and are measured in the ear canal with a miniature microphone. One impediment to OAE testing on a large scale, such as in military HCPs, is the lack of a high-quality, reliable, and cheap ear-probe, which houses the miniature microphone and sound transducers. The technical merit and feasibility of a new OAE ear probe will be evaluated, and technical specifications drawn up. The new probe will perform at least as well, if not better, than the leading ear probes (ILO and ER10C) on a wide range of acoustic and ergonomic properties important to OAE testing. The trade-offs among various acoustical properties will be evaluated, allowing for the best choice of parameters for use in HCPs. The new probe will also have characteristics necessary for pure-tone audiometry screening and middle-ear reflectance, both of which are necessary - along with OAEs - for an all-in-one HCP screening system.