Brant Audiology audiologists use real ear measurements as part of the best practices for hearing aid fitting for patients in Wyoming.

Real Ear Measurement, or REM, is a test that helps make sure hearing aids work just right for each person. It measures how well the hearing aid amplifies sounds directly in the ear.

REM is very important in fitting hearing aids. It makes sure the hearing aids are set up perfectly for each person’s hearing needs. This means the hearing aid will make sounds louder, just the right amount, so the person can hear better without sounds being too loud or too soft.

Why perform Real Ear Measures?

Real ear measurement is vital in ensuring your hearing aids work well for you. It ensures accuracy, provides a personalized fit, and improves your hearing experience. 

What are the Benefits of REM?
  • Better Hearing: REM ensures your hearing aids provide the best possible sound quality. This means you can hear conversations more clearly and enjoy your favorite sounds.
  • Accuracy: With REM, the settings of your hearing aids are tailored precisely to your ears. It’s like having a suit custom-made to fit you perfectly.
  • Hearing Aid Verification: REM helps check that your hearing aids are working correctly and provides the right amplification for your hearing loss.
  • Gold Standard: REM is considered the gold standard in hearing aid fittings. This means it’s the best method to ensure your hearing aids are set up perfectly.
  • Personalized Fit: Everyone’s ears are different, and REM makes sure your hearing aids are customized for your unique ear shape and hearing loss.
  • Improved Comfort: Properly fitted hearing aids are more comfortable to wear. REM helps prevent sounds from being too loud or too soft.

What is the basic process of Real Ear Measurement?

  1. Setting up: First, you sit in a chair. An audiologist puts a small, soft tube (called a probe) into your ear, which is connected to a microphone.
  2. Testing: The audiologist then plays different sounds through speakers. The sounds can be voices, beeps, or even music. The probe microphone measures how loud these sounds are inside your ear.
  3. Adjusting: Based on the measurements, the audiologist can adjust your hearing aids. They make sure the sounds you need to hear are loud enough but not too loud.
Man in a red shirt checked by a woman with otoscope

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids and Why Real Ear Measurement Matters

Over-the-counter hearing aids are haring devices you can buy without seeing an audiologist. You can find them at stores or online. They are cheaper and easier to get than regular hearing aids.

Why Real Ear Measurement Is Important

Real Ear Measurement (REM) is a test to check how well your hearing aid works. It measures the sound inside your ear when you wear the hearing aid. This helps make sure the sound is just right for you.

OTC Hearing Aids Don’t Have REM

When you buy an OTC hearing aid, it doesn’t come with a test like REM. Without this test, it might not work as well as it could. The sound might be too loud or too soft. It’s like wearing glasses without knowing if the lenses are right for your eyes.

In short – over-the-counter hearing aids are easy to buy but might not work as well without real ear measurement or verification by an audiologist. It’s a good idea to see an audiologist to make sure your hearing aid is just right for you.

Real Ear Measurement vs. Auto Hearing Aid Programming

Real Ear Measurement (REM) is a way to check if your hearing aid is working well for your ears.

A tiny microphone measures the sound inside your ear while you wear the hearing aid. This helps to make sure the hearing aid is set just right for you.

Meanwhile, Auto Hearing Aid Programming sets up a hearing aid using a computer program. The program uses general settings that are supposed to work for most people. It doesn’t check how the sound actually works in your ear.

Why is Real Ear Measurement Better?
  • Personal Fit: Everyone’s ears are different. REM makes sure the hearing aid is adjusted for your unique ears.
  • Better Sound: REM helps the hearing aid give you the best sound, making it easier to hear clearly.
  • Accurate Settings: REM checks the sound inside your ear, so it’s more accurate than using general settings.

This is the initial setting of the hearing aid when you first get it. It’s a general setting made by the hearing aid company. These settings might not be perfect for you because they are not customized to your ears.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the alternative to real ear measurement?

An alternative to real ear measurement is something called “first-fit.” This is a way to set up hearing aids using the settings that come from the hearing aid maker. The audiologist or hearing specialist uses a computer to program the hearing aids based on what the manufacturer recommends. This method doesn’t check how the hearing aid works in your ear.

Live speech mapping and real ear measurement are similar but not the same.

Live speech mapping is a test where a person wears their hearing aids, and the audiologist uses speech sounds to show how well the hearing aids are working. The sounds are played, and the audiologist can see on a screen how the hearing aids are helping the person hear those sounds.

Real ear measurement, on the other hand, is a test where tiny microphones are placed in the ear canal. These microphones measure the sounds inside the ear to see if the hearing aids are set correctly for the person’s hearing loss.

Both tests help make sure hearing aids work well, but they use different methods to check this. Live speech mapping uses speech sounds and visual displays, while real ear measurement uses microphones and measurements inside the ear.

No, real ear measurement is not painful. It is a test that helps make sure your hearing aids work well for you. During the test, a small, soft tube is placed in your ear along with your hearing aid. The tube measures the sound in your ear. You might feel the tube, but it shouldn’t hurt. The test is quick and helps your hearing aids sound just right.

Real Ear Measurement and Hearing Aid Success

Real Ear Measurement should always be part of the hearing aid setup. It ensures your hearing aids are perfectly tuned to your ears, giving you the best possible hearing experience. Without REM, your hearing aids might not work as well for you.

At Brant Audiology & Tinnitus, all of our audiologists practice real ear measurements to ensure that you get the best out of your hearing aid. 

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our audiologists in Wyoming.