Insert ear-probe assembly for high-quality otoacoustic-emission (OAE) measurements in adults Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T032 Topic Title: Insert ear-probe assembly for high-quality otoacoustic-emission (OAE) measurements in adults Proposal No.: N10A-032-0763 Firm: Mimosa Acoustics, Inc. 335 N. Fremont St. Champaign, Illinois 61820-7460 Contact: Patricia Jeng Phone: (217) 359-9740 Abstract: Recently there has been a push to get otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing into adult hearing-conservation programs, because the early stages of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and susceptibility to NIHL, can be detected with OAEs. OAEs are sounds made by healthy inner ears in response to acoustic stimulation and are measured in the ear canal with a miniature microphone. One impediment to OAE testing on a large scale, such as in military HCPs, is the lack of a high-quality, reliable, and cheap ear-probe, which houses the miniature microphone and sound transducers. The technical merit and feasibility of a new OAE ear probe will be evaluated, and technical specifications drawn up. The new probe will perform at least as well, if not better, than the leading ear probes (ILO and ER10C) on a wide range of acoustic and ergonomic properties important to OAE testing. The trade-offs among various acoustical properties will be evaluated, allowing for the best choice of parameters for use in HCPs. The new probe will also have characteristics necessary for pure-tone audiometry screening and middle-ear reflectance, both of which are necessary - along with OAEs - for an all-in-one HCP screening system. Benefits: The benefits and the potential commercial application of the finalized new probe set are immediate - to the hearing conservation program as well as to the civilian health care community. Years of research in confirming test methods in preventing NIHL can be realized for the military hearing conservation program (HCP). The OAE measurement has become part of standard hearing test battery and for universal newborn hearing screening program. Improved probes for OAE measurements can improve the performance of the existing OAE devices. The proposed probe set will eliminate several sources of instability and the inaccuracy in OAE measurements, hence improving the OAE test results. The probe set will be easy to handle making good probe fitting easier. In addition, the probe set structure will protect the probe from unintended damage in a busy testing environment, thus further lowering the replacement and repair cost. Return