PURPOSE: To compare interaural attenuation values in a group of individuals with unilateral anacusis using supra-aural earphones and insert earphones. METHODS: Fifteen subjects with complete unilateral deafness underwent pure-tone audiometry and determination of speech detection threshold with two different transducers: TDH-39 supra-aural earphones, and ER-3A insert earphone. These procedures were carried out without contralateral masking. Interaural attenuation effects for the frequencies ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz were obtained by subtracting the unmasked threshold of the deaf ear from the threshold obtained for the normal ear. RESULTS: Interaural attenuation values were significantly greater when obtained with ER-3A earphones, for all frequencies and for speech stimuli. No differences were found between genders and age ranges. CONCLUSION: Insert earphones provided greater interaural attenuation than supra-aural earphones. This greater attenuation might be very useful for clinical audiology, especially for masking purposes.
Audiometry; Hearing loss; Perceptual masking; Transducers
