Subjective and objective measures of the occlusion effect for open-fit hearing aids.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of measured and selfrated occlusion effect for 3 open-fit hearing aids. Measured occlusion effect was calculated from occluded and unaided real-ear responses obtained while participants vocalized /i/. Self-ratings were acquired using an occlusion effect scale. Results demonstrated that open-fit devices differed in degree of measured and self-rated occlusion effect. Self-ratings of occlusion effect were moderately correlated with objective real-ear measures.

from the Journal of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology