Earphones in extended high-frequency audiometry and ISO 389-5

Abstract

Objective: To determine common reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels (RETSPL) for the earphones used in the extended high-frequency (EHF) range, as different earphones are commercially available, but there are not RETSPLs for each model. Design: Hearing threshold sound pressure levels were measured up to 20 kHz for the Sennheiser HDA 200 audiometric earphone, and were compared to the ISO 389-5 (2006) norm and other investigations using that earphone and different ones. Study sample: A total of 223 otologically-normal subjects (aged 5–25 years old) participated in the hearing determination. Results: The results are in good agreement with previous studies of hearing thresholds using the same and other earphones. Conclusions: The results of the present investigation are relevant for the international standard for the calibration of audiometric equipment in the 8 to 16 kHz frequency range, ISO 389-5. The data may be used for a future update of the RETSPL for circumaural and insert audiometric earphones.

Key Words::

• Pure-tone audiometry
• high-frequency hearing loss
• sensorineural hearing loss
• noise-induced hearing loss
• presbycusis
• aging
• toxicity tests
• drug toxicity

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Pilar Mateu for her assistance in data collection, Isabel Millán for her assistance in data analysis, and Alejandro Kurtz for assisting with the English language and preparation of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.