bite bar and bone conduction

[Christian Kaernbach <auditorymail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear List,

We plan to do experiments involving bite bars and bone conduction. We 
could use normal bone conduction transducers strapped to the mastoid but 
it might be compelling to apply the sound via the bite bar. Has anybody 
experience with sound application through bite bars? I have found in the 
internet that potential users of BAHA (bone anchored hearing aids) are 
encouraged to test the effect of bone conduction sound via bite bars. It 
could be that bite bar sound transmission will be variable depending on 
bite pressure. We will use bite bars with dental impressions. Hopefully 
these will ensure a good contact so that sound transmission should not 
depend too much on bite pressure. A five-dB variability would be 
acceptable. ... And what about the sound transmission to the table? Can 
it be ignored? Would mounting the bite bar to the table make it more 
difficult to apply sounds via the bite bar?

Thanks in advance,
Christian

--
Prof. Dr. Christian Kaernbach
Allgemeine Psychologie
Institut für Psychologie
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Olshausenstr. 62
D-24098 Kiel
Germany
www.kaernbach.de