Abstract
PurposeTo correlate the subjective quality assessment of ear canal acoustics of the participants to the objective measurement of the ear canal acoustics. The objective ear canal acoustics is the frequency-dependent modulation of soundwaves through the ear canal. Our second objective is to design a model to predict the subjective quality of sound based on the altered objective ear canal acoustics.MethodsTo determine the frequency-dependent modulation of the soundwaves the real-ear unaided gain (REUG) of the ear canal is measured. 40 participants with normal hearing were presented six simulated sound fragments representing the acoustic properties of six different ear canals (REUG). These six sound fragments were built based on the difference between these six REUGs and the average REUG of a normal adult ear canal. Subjective sound quality was evaluated using a VAS score and a paired comparison score.ResultsWe found a strong correlation between the objective ear canal acoustics and the subjective assessment of the quality of sound (Spearman’s rho—0.89). Our linear mixed VAS model for individual participants has an intercept of 95.6 and a slope of − 4.2 (p < 0.001). The paired comparison analysis endorsed our findings that an increased difference in REUG is predictive for a decreased quality assessment of ear canal acoustics.ConclusionThere is a strong correlation between the subjective evaluation of ear canal acoustics and the objective quality assessment of ear canal acoustics. Our models show that an increased difference in REUG predicts a decreased quality of ear canal acoustics.
Highlights
Acoustics is defined as the science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effect of the sound [1]
A correlation between subjective sound quality assessment and objective acoustic quality assessment in Portuguese churches has been described earlier [12], to our knowledge we are the first to investigate the correlation between objective measurements of external auditory canal acoustics and subjective quality assessment of ear canal acoustics
We have demonstrated that an increased Difference from Dillan line (DFDL) is predictive of a decreased subjective perception of ear canal acoustics, measured with a VAS score
Summary
Acoustics is defined as the science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effect of the sound [1]. External ear acoustics is the modulation of sound in the ear canal. The external auditory ear canal transfers soundwaves from the concha to the eardrum and acts as a resonant tube [2]. Due to its anatomical dimensions the external auditory ear canal acts as a filter to reduce low frequencies and enhance mid to high frequencies [3]. Surgical modification of the osseous external auditory canal (OEAC) changes the acoustic properties of the external ear. A correlation between subjective sound quality assessment and objective acoustic quality assessment in Portuguese churches has been described earlier [12], to our knowledge we are the first to investigate the correlation between objective measurements of external auditory canal acoustics and subjective quality assessment of ear canal acoustics
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