Reducing the occlusion effect with active noise control

The occlusion effect refers to the build‐up of low‐frequency sound pressure in the ear canal when it is sealed by a hearing aid. Hearing aid wearers experiencing the occlusion effect often complain about the sound of their own voice. The traditional solution to this problem is to introduce a vent or opening through the hearing aid from the canal end to the faceplate. Unfortunately, the use of large vents, which is required for reducing occlusion, can result in significant feedback problems. This paper describes a solution for the occlusion problem that is based on active noise control techniques. This approach allows occlusion reduction without the feedback problems caused by large vents.