Earphones in extended high-frequency audiometry and ISO 389-5.

OBJECTIVE

To determine common reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels (RETSPL) for the earphones used in the extended high-frequency (EHF) range, as different earphones are commercially available, but there are not RETSPLs for each model.

DESIGN

Hearing threshold sound pressure levels were measured up to 20 kHz for the Sennheiser HDA 200 audiometric earphone, and were compared to the ISO 389-5 (2006) norm and other investigations using that earphone and different ones.

STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 223 otologically-normal subjects (aged 5-25 years old) participated in the hearing determination.

RESULTS

The results are in good agreement with previous studies of hearing thresholds using the same and other earphones.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present investigation are relevant for the international standard for the calibration of audiometric equipment in the 8 to 16 kHz frequency range, ISO 389-5. The data may be used for a future update of the RETSPL for circumaural and insert audiometric earphones.