Occlusion effect

The occlusion effect occurs when an object fills the outer portion of a person's ear canal, and that person perceives "hollow" or "booming" echo-like sounds of their own voice. It is caused by bone-conducted sound vibrations reverberating off the object filling the ear canal. When talking or chewing, these vibrations normally escape through an open ear canal; most people are unaware of their existence. When the ear canal is blocked, the vibrations are reflected back toward the eardrum. Compared to a completely open ear canal, the occlusion effect can boost low frequency (usually below 500 Hz) sound pressure in the ear canal by 20 dB or more. This effect can be measured with a probe-tube microphone.[1]

A person with normal hearing can experience this by sticking their fingers into their ears and talking. Otherwise, this effect is often experienced by hearing aid users who only have a mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss, but use hearing aids which block the entire ear canal.

Active occlusion algorithms are needed to help people with severe hearing loss adequately. If a person suffers from "near-normal low-frequency hearing and mild to moderate hearing loss of up to 70 dB at mid and high frequencies," hearing aids with increased vent size or hollow ear-molds/domes are more suitable for them in lessening the extent of the occlusion effect.[2]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The "Occlusion Effect" -- What it is, and What to Do About it, by Mark Ross, January, 2004 in Hearing Loss. Accessed 25 Nov 2007.
  2. ↑ "Open Versus Closed Hearing-Aid Fittings: A Literature Review of Both Fittin...: Discover". eds.a.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2017-10-24.


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