Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-24-2020
Publication Title
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Abstract
Wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) measures are noninvasive diagnostic measurements that require an estimate of the ear canal’s area at the measurement location. Yet, physical measurements of the area at WAI probe locations are lacking. Methods to measure ear-canal areas from silicone molds were developed and applied to 169 subjects, ages 18–75 years. The average areas at the canal’s first bend and at 12mm insertion depth, which are likely WAI probe locations, were 63:4613:5 and 61:6613:5mm2, respectively. These areas are substantially larger than those assumed by current FDA-approved WAI measurement devices as well as areas estimated with acoustical methods or measured on cadaver ears. Left and right ears from the same subject had similar areas. Sex, height, and weight were not significant factors in predicting area. Age cohort was a significant predictor of area, with area increasing with decade of life. A subset of areas from the youngest female subjects did not show an effect of race on area (White or Chinese). Areas were also measured as a function of insertion depth of 4.8–13.2mm from the canal entrance; area was largest closest to the canal entrance and systemically decreased with insertion depth.
Volume
148
First Page
3042
Last Page
3051
DOI
doi.org/10.1121/10.0002358
Rights
© 2020 Acoustical Society of America
Recommended Citation
Voss, Susan E.; Horton, Nicholas J.; Fairbank, Katherine E.; Xia, Lu; Tinglin, Lauren R. K.; and Girardin, Kathryn D., "Measurements of Ear-Canal Cross-Sectional Areas from Live Human Ears with Implications for Wideband Acoustic Immittance Measurements" (2020). Engineering: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/egr_facpubs/79
Comments
Archived as published.