An objective comparison of leakage between commonly used earplugs

作者：Alt Jeremiah A^*; Collins William O

来源：American Journal of Otolaryngology, 2012, 33(4): 469-472.

DOI：10.1016/j.amjoto.2011.10.023

Objective: We sought to determine the efficacy of commonly used earplugs using an anatomically correct ear model.
Methods: The total volume and rate of water that leaked past the earplug and subsequent defect in the tympanic membrane over separately measured 30, 60, 120, and 180-second intervals were recorded. Scenarios tested included a control with no earplug, custom molded earplug (Precision Laboratories, Orlando, FL), Mack's plug (Warren, MI), Doe's plug (Santa Cruz, CA), and cotton balls coated with petroleum jelly.
Results: All plugs tested resulted in less leakage at all time points when compared with no plug (P < .05). At 30 seconds, the custom molded, Mack's and Doe's plugs all showed significantly less leakage when compared with the cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly (P < .05). At 60, 120, and 180 seconds, Mack's, Doe's, and the cotton plugs all showed significantly less leakage compared with the customized plug (P < .05). At 120 and 180 seconds, Mack's plugs had significant less leakage than the cotton plug (P <.05). Among the types of plugs, the molded variety (Mack's) showed the least volume and lowest leakage rate (f(4,45) = 94 [P < .001]). In addition, Doe's and cotton balls coated with petroleum jelly were more effective than the customized earplugs.
Conclusions: If the clinician feels that middle ear and external canal water exposure should be minimized, then use of earplugs, particularly the moldable variety, merits further consideration.

• 出版日期2012-8