In-ear earphone design-oriented pressure sensitivity evaluation on the external ear

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the pressure sensitivity of the external ear that can be the basis for adapting the pressure distribution on the concha for in-ear earphone design. Overall, 30 participants were included in this study, where an electronic mechanical algometer with a stepping motor was used to apply constant pressure. Before the experiment, the customised concha shell models of the participants were positioned in the ear perpendicular to the concha surface. Furthermore, the pressure discomfort threshold (PDT), moderate pressure discomfort (MPD), and maximum pressure threshold (MPT) in eight regions of the ear were recorded. This study’s results indicate that the four regions of the external ear are less sensitive to pressure than those of the other regions. Additionally, women had higher pressure sensitivity values in the external ear. Therefore, this study’s findings could have important implications for earphone designs and evaluating discomfort conditions in the external ear.

Practitioner summary: This study explores the pressure sensitivity threshold (PDT, MPD, and MPT) on the external ear and the relevant implications for in-ear earphone design. Interestingly, regions closer to the bone structure were less sensitive to pressure, and men could tolerate greater pressure on the external ear than women.

Keywords:

• Pressure discomfort threshold (PDT)
• moderate pressure discomfort (MPD)
• maximum pressure threshold (MPT)
• external ear
• in-ear earphone

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the support from Miss Yuxin Ju, and Miss Meng Qiu for their work during data collection. Special thanks are given to participants involved in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFF0900600) and National Social Science Fund of China (Grant Number: 20ZD09).