In medical terminology, occlusion refers to the blocking or closure of a passage or opening.
What is occlusion in medical terminology?
In audiology, occlusion refers to the sensation that results from “plugging up” the ear canal with cerumen, an un-vented hearing aid, or a foreign body.
What is ear occlusion?
Ear occlusion is the condition of having the ear canal blocked or closed. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Cerumen (earwax) buildup
- Foreign bodies, such as insects or small objects
- Hearing aids that are not properly fitted
- Ear infections
- Trauma to the ear
What is the cause of the occlusion effect?
The occlusion effect is the increased loudness of low-frequency sounds that occurs when the ear canal is blocked or closed. This is because the blockage of the ear canal traps sound waves inside the canal, which causes them to be amplified.
The occlusion effect is most noticeable for self-generated sounds, such as the sound of your own voice. This is because self-generated sounds are transmitted to the ear through bone conduction, which is not affected by the occlusion of the ear canal.
How do you treat the occlusion effect?
The treatment for occlusion effect depends on the underlying cause. If the occlusion effect is caused by cerumen buildup, the ear canal can be cleaned by a doctor or audiologist. If the occlusion effect is caused by a foreign body, the foreign body can be removed by a doctor or audiologist. If the occlusion effect is caused by hearing aids that are not properly fitted, the hearing aids can be adjusted by an audiologist.