Real-ear measurement of ear canal acoustic resonance on Chinese children

The study investigate the developmental rule of external ear canal resonance characteristics in Chinese children and compare with western countries' data. The aim is to explore the possibility of application of DSL prescriptive formula in Chinese children, which is very popular formula on pediatric hearing aid fitting. 45 pre-school children's (from 3 to 7 of age) ear canal resonance characteristics, also as REURs, are measured by Aurical^TM audio-diagnostic fitting system in sound-proof test room. Control group consisted of 16 adults. There are significant differences on ear canal resonance characteristics between Chinese adults and Chinese children. The average peak of REUR of children is moving forward to low frequency (from 4589 Hz to 3550 Hz) with the growth of age. The average peak frequency of ear canal resonance of Chinese children is significantly different from that of western children in all of age groups. The difference of ear canal resonance characteristics between children and western children suggests that we should facilitate individual real-ear measurement data when we are fitting hearing aid for Chinese children.