The occlusion effect is commonly described as an unnatural and mostly annoying quality of the voice of a person wearing hearing aids or hearing protectors. As a result, it is often reported by hearing aid users as a deterrent to wearing hearing aids. This paper presents an investigation into active occlusion cancellation. Measured transducer responses combined with models of an active feedback scheme are first examined in order to predict the effectiveness of occlusion reduction. The simulations predict of occlusion reduction in completely blocked ear canals. Simulations incorporating a vent (providing passive occlusion reduction) predict a combined active and passive occlusion reduction of . A prototype occlusion canceling system was constructed. Averaged across 12 listeners with normal hearing, it provided of occlusion reduction. Ten of the subjects reported a more natural own voice quality and an appreciable increase in comfort with the cancellation active, and 11 out of the 12 preferred the active system over the passive system.
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July 2008
July 01 2008
Active cancellation of occlusion: An electronic vent for hearing aids and hearing protectors
Jorge Mejia;
Jorge Mejia
a)
National Acoustic Laboratories and CRC Hear Pty Ltd.
, 126 Greville Street, Chatswood New South Wales 2067, Australia
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Harvey Dillon;
Harvey Dillon
National Acoustic Laboratories and CRC Hear Pty Ltd.
, 126 Greville Street, Chatswood New South Wales 2067, Australia
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Michael Fisher
Michael Fisher
National Acoustic Laboratories and CRC Hear Pty Ltd.
, 126 Greville Street, Chatswood New South Wales 2067, Australia
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a)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 124, 235–240 (2008)
Article history
Received:
September 13 2007
Accepted:
March 17 2008
Citation
Jorge Mejia, Harvey Dillon, Michael Fisher; Active cancellation of occlusion: An electronic vent for hearing aids and hearing protectors. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 July 2008; 124 (1): 235–240. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.2908279
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