Real Ear Measurements (REMs), also called real-ear verification or hearing aid verification, are a crucial tool often used by audiologists to verify the performance of hearing aids. They involve placing a probe microphone into the ear canal while the hearing aid is worn and measuring the sound pressure level. This allows audiologists to assess how well the hearing aid is amplifying sound for the individual's specific hearing loss and ear canal characteristics.

This technology is particularly critical for those patients who have not found hearing aids to be as helpful as they should be. It just might be because the hearing aids are not perfectly fit to your ear canal shape and hearing loss pattern as well as sub-optimal programming. REMs can provide the precise information needed to provide the best possible fit for great hearing aid use satisfaction.

Purpose

REMs ensure that a hearing aid is providing the correct amplification for an individual's hearing needs. They help audiologists determine if the hearing aid is delivering sounds at the appropriate levels and frequencies.

How REMs is Performed

In a nutshell, a probe microphone (red arrow) is placed in the ear canal, typically within a few millimeters of the eardrum. The hearing aid (blue arrow) is then worn, and sounds (e.g., tones, speech, noise) are presented to the patient. The microphone measures the sound pressure level at the eardrum.

Here's a more detailed step-by-step overview of how REMs is typically performed during a hearing aid fitting:

1. Preparing the Ear Canal: A thin, pliable probe tube (red arrow) is inserted into the ear canal, close to the eardrum, with the hearing aid (blue arrow) in place.
2. Playing Sound Stimuli: The audiologist then presents various sound signals through a speaker, which can include pure tones, white noise, or even speech sounds.
3. Measuring the Output: A microphone within the probe tube captures the sound levels in the ear canal, measuring how the hearing aid amplifies the sounds in a real-ear environment.
4. Comparing with Targets: The measured sound levels are then compared to pre-determined targets based on the individual's hearing loss, ensuring the hearing aid delivers the appropriate amplification at each frequency.
5. Adjusting the Hearing Aid: The audiologist adjusts the hearing aid's settings, including gain and compression, based on the REMs results, ensuring the hearing aid provides optimal sound quality and audibility in an objective "scientific" manner.

Benefits

REMs provide objective data about the hearing aid's performance, allowing for more accurate and personalized adjustments. They are considered the gold standard for verifying hearing aid fit and can help improve hearing aid outcomes. Specifically, REMs provides:

• Appropriate levels of audibility: The hearing aid provides enough amplification for the patient to hear sounds clearly.
• Improved hearing aid adoption rates: Patients are more likely to use and benefit from hearing aids that are properly fitted with the help of REMs.
• Optimal gain and output: The hearing aid delivers sound at the correct levels for the patient's specific hearing loss.
• Personalized fitting: REMs allow for individual adjustments to the hearing aid programming based on the unique characteristics of each patient's ear.

Ultimately, the REMs help ensure that the hearing aid is not over-amplifying or under-amplifying sounds, which can lead to discomfort or reduced benefit. They can help identify issues with the hearing aid's performance, such as feedback or unwanted noise. In the end, REMs provide valuable data for fine-tuning the hearing aid's settings for optimal performance.

For more information, please email our hearing specialist directly or contact our office.

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