Audiometric Management of Collapsible Ear Canals

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Abstract
The audiometric management of collapsible ear canals was investigated by performing pure-tone audiometry under six conditions with 12 subjects having normal hearing and normal ear canals and 12 subjects with collapsible ear canals. Sound-field audiometry provided valid and reliable threshold estimates. With appropriate calibration, a circumaural earphone assembly provided valid and reliable results between 125 and 3,000 hertz but produced large intersubject differences above 3,000 Hz. A hand-held supra-aural earphone was effective above 1,000 Hz but grossly unreliable below 1,500 Hz. A small ear insert was relatively ineffective in neutralizing the effects of collapsible ear canals. It was concluded that sound-field audiometry or a circumaural earphone are useful for assessing patients with collapsible ear canals and that earmolds, ear inserts, or polyethylene tubing are inappropriate solutions to the problem.

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