Hearing aids offer improved communication and engagement for individuals with hearing loss. Achieving their full benefit relies on proper fitting and programming to an individual’s unique auditory needs. Real Ear Measurement (REM) is a crucial process that ensures this personalized fit, optimizing hearing aid performance. This article explains what REM involves and why it is an important step in maximizing hearing aid effectiveness.
Understanding Real Ear Measurement
Real Ear Measurement (REM), also known as probe microphone measurement, is an objective procedure audiologists use to verify how a hearing aid amplifies sound inside an individual’s ear canal. It accurately measures the sound pressure levels produced by the hearing aid at the eardrum. This differs from relying on generic manufacturer presets, which do not account for each ear’s unique acoustic properties.
Every person’s ear canal has a distinct shape and size, influencing how sound travels and resonates. These anatomical variations mean identical hearing aids, programmed with the same settings, can produce different sound levels in different ears. REM provides a precise, evidence-based method to measure this real-world performance, ensuring the hearing aid delivers correct amplification for that specific ear. This process is considered a gold standard in hearing aid fitting, moving beyond subjective feedback to provide concrete data on how sound is being delivered.
The Real Ear Measurement Process
Performing Real Ear Measurement involves specialized equipment and a precise, non-invasive procedure. An audiologist first uses an otoscope to examine the ear canal, ensuring it is clear of obstructions like earwax. A thin, flexible silicone probe microphone is then carefully inserted into the ear canal, positioned close to the eardrum. This probe tube connects to a microphone outside the ear.
The patient sits in front of a loudspeaker, which plays various test sounds at different volume levels. While these sounds play, the hearing aid is placed in the ear and turned on. The probe microphone continuously measures the actual sound pressure levels produced by the hearing aid inside the ear canal in real time. This data displays on a computer screen, providing the audiologist with a visual representation of the hearing aid’s performance. The entire measurement process is quick, painless, and does not involve any discomfort for the patient.
Why Real Ear Measurement Matters for Your Hearing
Real Ear Measurement is important because the acoustics of each individual’s ear canal significantly affect how sound from a hearing aid is perceived. Factors like the ear canal’s size, shape, and volume alter the sound reaching the eardrum, making a “one-size-fits-all” approach insufficient. REM accounts for these unique anatomical differences, ensuring the hearing aid provides precise amplification across various frequencies.
Accurately measuring sound output, REM optimizes sound quality and improves speech understanding. It ensures crucial speech sounds, particularly high-frequency consonants, are amplified appropriately for clear communication, especially in noisy environments. This personalized approach prevents issues like over-amplification, which causes discomfort, or under-amplification, resulting in inadequate benefit. REM contributes to a more comfortable listening experience and higher user satisfaction.
Applying Real Ear Measurement Insights
After Real Ear Measurement, the audiologist analyzes the data collected from the probe microphone. This data, showing the actual sound levels produced by the hearing aid, is compared against prescriptive targets. These targets are based on the individual’s hearing loss profile, determined from their audiogram, and indicate ideal amplification levels required at different frequencies.
Based on this precise, objective information, the audiologist makes fine-tune adjustments to the hearing aid settings. This includes modifying the gain and frequency response to ensure the hearing aid’s output closely matches the patient’s prescribed targets. This data-driven approach ensures the hearing aid is customized, maximizing its performance and enabling the user to receive the full benefit of their device for improved hearing and communication.