Sound Levels with Aural Suctioning: Effects of Suction Size, Canal Moisture, and Distance from the Eardrum

Authors

Allen Young MD, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Nathaniel H. Reeve MD, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Albert Yang MD, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Jacob Kahane MD, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Chad Cross PhD, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Anita Albanese BS, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Matthew Ng, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-20-2020

Publication Title

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

First page number:

1

Last page number:

7

Abstract

Objective To determine sound levels resulting from aural suctioning of the external auditory canal. Methods Unweighted decibels (dB) and A‐weighted decibels (dBA) sound pressure level measurements were recorded using a retrotympanic microphone in cadaveric human temporal bones. Sound measurements were made with common otologic suctions, size 3, 5, and 7 French, within the external ear canal at the tympanic membrane, 5, and 10 mm from the tympanic membrane in the dry condition. In the wet condition, the ear canal was filled with fluid and completely suctioned clear to determine sound effects of suctioning liquid from the ear canal. Results Sound levels generated from ear canal suctioning ranged from 68.3 to 97 dB and 62.6 to 95.1 dBA. … See full text for complete abstract.

Keywords

Cadaveric temporal bone; Ear canal; Noise level; Office suction

Disciplines

Otolaryngology

File Format

pdf

File Size

2.554 KB

Language

English

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Repository Citation

Young, A., Reeve, N. H., Yang, A., Kahane, J., Cross, C., Albanese, A., Ng, M. (2020). Sound Levels with Aural Suctioning: Effects of Suction Size, Canal Moisture, and Distance from the Eardrum. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology 1-7.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lio2.432