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Fit and Comfort Perception on Hearing Aids: A Pilot Study

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Human Systems Engineering and Design II (IHSED 2019)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1026))

Abstract

Fit and comfort issues in ergonomic designs contain both physical fit and users’ comfort perception, which are important for products with increasing requirements based on user experience, such as hearing aids. In this study, 3D ear was modelled as a reference to determine the size and shape of in-the-ear hearing aids. Four models and twelves sizes of hearing aids were customized designed based on the anthropometric reference model. The prototypes were 3D printed with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polylactic Acid (PLA), and Nylon materials. The study revealed the differences of user experience with the changes of product parameters, including size, shape and material, which suggested scaling range and proportion for research in customized design of hearing aids. The study contributed to a better understanding of the relationship between anthropometry and hearing aid design for further research on generalizing comprehension of users’ perception.

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Acknowledgments

The research is fully supported by Hong Kong RGC/GRF project B-Q57F.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR

    Fang Fu & Yan Luximon

Authors
  1. Fang Fu
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  2. Yan Luximon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Luximon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Tareq Ahram

  2. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Waldemar Karwowski

  3. Department of Computer Science, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Neubiberg, Germany

    Stefan Pickl

  4. Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, Reims Cedex 2, France

    Redha Taiar

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Fu, F., Luximon, Y. (2020). Fit and Comfort Perception on Hearing Aids: A Pilot Study. In: Ahram, T., Karwowski, W., Pickl, S., Taiar, R. (eds) Human Systems Engineering and Design II. IHSED 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1026. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27928-8_55

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