Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application
Cartilage conduction (CC) is a form of conduction that allows a relatively loud sound to be audible when a transducer is placed on the aural cartilage. The CC transmission mechanism has gradually been elucidated, allowing for the development of CC hearing aids (CC-HAs), which are clinically availabl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Audiology Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/11/2/23 |
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| author | Tadashi Nishimura Hiroshi Hosoi Ryota Shimokura Chihiro Morimoto Tadashi Kitahara |
| author_facet | Tadashi Nishimura Hiroshi Hosoi Ryota Shimokura Chihiro Morimoto Tadashi Kitahara |
| author_sort | Tadashi Nishimura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cartilage conduction (CC) is a form of conduction that allows a relatively loud sound to be audible when a transducer is placed on the aural cartilage. The CC transmission mechanism has gradually been elucidated, allowing for the development of CC hearing aids (CC-HAs), which are clinically available in Japan. However, CC is still not fully understood. This review summarizes previous CC reports to facilitate its understanding. Concerning the transmission mechanism, the sound pressure level in the ear canal was found to increase when the transducer was attached to the aural cartilage, compared to an unattached condition. Further, inserting an earplug and injecting water into the ear canal shifted the CC threshold, indicating the considerable influence of cartilage–air conduction on the transmission. In CC, the aural cartilage resembles the movable plate of a vibration speaker. This unique transduction mechanism is responsible for the CC characteristics. In terms of clinical applications, CC-HAs are a good option for patients with aural atresia, despite inferior signal transmission compared to bone conduction in bony atretic ears. The advantages of CC, namely comfort, stable fixation, esthetics, and non-invasiveness, facilitate its clinical use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:46:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3eaf75d77de46e0b94e201df71ff75b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2039-4349 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:46:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Audiology Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3eaf75d77de46e0b94e201df71ff75b2023-11-21T22:37:15ZengMDPI AGAudiology Research2039-43492021-06-0111225426210.3390/audiolres11020023Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical ApplicationTadashi Nishimura0Hiroshi Hosoi1Ryota Shimokura2Chihiro Morimoto3Tadashi Kitahara4Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, JapanMBT (Medicine-Based Town) Institute, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, D436, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, JapanCartilage conduction (CC) is a form of conduction that allows a relatively loud sound to be audible when a transducer is placed on the aural cartilage. The CC transmission mechanism has gradually been elucidated, allowing for the development of CC hearing aids (CC-HAs), which are clinically available in Japan. However, CC is still not fully understood. This review summarizes previous CC reports to facilitate its understanding. Concerning the transmission mechanism, the sound pressure level in the ear canal was found to increase when the transducer was attached to the aural cartilage, compared to an unattached condition. Further, inserting an earplug and injecting water into the ear canal shifted the CC threshold, indicating the considerable influence of cartilage–air conduction on the transmission. In CC, the aural cartilage resembles the movable plate of a vibration speaker. This unique transduction mechanism is responsible for the CC characteristics. In terms of clinical applications, CC-HAs are a good option for patients with aural atresia, despite inferior signal transmission compared to bone conduction in bony atretic ears. The advantages of CC, namely comfort, stable fixation, esthetics, and non-invasiveness, facilitate its clinical use.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/11/2/23cartilage conductionairborne soundaural atresiahearing aidbone conductionbone-anchored hearing aid |
| spellingShingle | Tadashi Nishimura Hiroshi Hosoi Ryota Shimokura Chihiro Morimoto Tadashi Kitahara Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application Audiology Research cartilage conduction airborne sound aural atresia hearing aid bone conduction bone-anchored hearing aid |
| title | Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application |
| title_full | Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application |
| title_fullStr | Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application |
| title_short | Cartilage Conduction Hearing and Its Clinical Application |
| title_sort | cartilage conduction hearing and its clinical application |
| topic | cartilage conduction airborne sound aural atresia hearing aid bone conduction bone-anchored hearing aid |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4349/11/2/23 |
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