Hearing Aid Coupler Output Level Variability and Coupler Correction Levels for Insert Earphones

HA coupler type SPLs were independently determined by two experimenters for five repeated measurements with and without replacement of two ER-3A and two EARTONE@ 3A insert earphones. Measurements were made using a B&K DB-0138 coupler configured as an HA-1, HA-2 earphone coupler and HA-2 earphone coupler with entrance through a rigid tube referred to as the DB-0138 coupler. The HA-1, HA-2, and DB-0138 SPLs were found to be very stable (±0.2 dB) for all intra- and interexperimenter measurements for each insert earphone and coupler type from 125 to 8000 Hz. Averaged across both experimenters and all repeated measurements, the mean HA-1 and HA-2 coupler SPLs were similar for each insert earphone from 125 to 8000 Hz. The mean HA-1, HA-2, and DB-0138 coupler SPLs were similar for each insert earphone from 125 to 2000 Hz; however, from 3000 to 8000 Hz the DB-0138 coupler SPLs were higher than the HA-1 and HA-2 coupler SPLs for each insert earphone. This occurred because of the geometrical differences between the insert earphone to coupler connections and coupler types. The HA-1 minus DB-0138 and HA-2 minus DB-0138 coupler SPL differences, or coupler correction levels, could be explained by quarter-wave resonances and stepped-diameter tubing systems creating acoustic horn effects.