The Acoustics of Instant Ear Tips and Their Implications for Hearing-Aid Fitting.
Jens Cubick, Sueli Caporali, Dina Lelic and 5 others
PMID 35733244WHAT IT FOUND
Instant ear tips vary widely in how much they block sound, depending on the tip type and the user's ear canal.
Open tips reduce occlusion but leak low-frequency gain. Closed tips fit better acoustically but feel more plugged. Real ear verification is essential to match the patient's needs.
Key findings
01Different instant ear tip types have distinct acoustic properties, with open tips providing the most vent effect and closed tips the least.
02There is high variability between subjects in how the same ear tip performs, meaning the fit in the ear canal strongly influences the acoustic result.
03Subjective feelings of occlusion correlate with measured vent effect, but the relationship is not perfect due to other factors like tip shape and pressure.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
All participants were employees of the hearing aid manufacturer (Widex), which may introduce bias. The study only tested ear tips from one manufacturer, so results may not generalize to other brands. Participants had normal hearing, which may not perfectly reflect the experience of hearing-impaired users, although the authors argue occlusion perception is similar. The study was conducted in a lab setting, which does not account for real-world changes like earwax buildup or sweat that can alter the seal over time.
Declared interests
All authors are employees of WS Audiology, the parent company of Widex, the manufacturer of the ear tips and hearing aids tested.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a specific ear tip model will perform identically in all patients. The study showed high variability between individuals for the same tip, meaning a tip that works well for one patient may leak excessively or feel too occlusive for another. Always verify the fit with real ear measurement.