In the past, hearing evaluations and hearing aid fittings mainly relied on tones and beeps to determine the right settings for each individual. Today, advanced methods like Real Ear Measurements (REM) have transformed the process, making hearing aid fittings more precise, efficient, and customized to each person’s unique hearing needs.
What is Real Ear Measurement? Real Ear Measurement (REM) is a best-practice approach in hearing aid verification, considered the gold standard for achieving accurate hearing aid settings. This method involves placing a tiny microphone in the ear canal to measure how sound behaves in the ear with a hearing aid in place. By capturing how sound interacts with each person’s unique ear shape, REM helps audiologists accurately verify that hearing aids are providing the intended levels of amplification.
During a REM appointment, your hearing specialist uses this real-time data to tailor your hearing aids to your specific needs. By taking into account factors like your individual ear acoustics and hearing loss profile, REM allows for precise adjustments that reflect how you’ll experience sounds in daily life.
Benefits of Real Ear Measurements Real Ear Measurements offer significant advantages, making the hearing aid fitting process more effective and comfortable:
- Enhanced Accuracy: REM measures the actual sound levels in your ear, leading to more accurate programming that better matches your hearing needs.
- Reduced Follow-Up Visits: With REM, hearing aids are calibrated with high precision, which reduces the need for additional adjustments or follow-up visits.
- Higher Satisfaction: REM allows you to immediately experience the improvements, increasing confidence in your hearing aids and helping you adapt faster to new sounds.
- Personalized Fitting: By accounting for your ear’s natural acoustics, REM provides a tailored fit that optimizes the quality of sounds most important to you, like speech clarity in various settings.
Why Choose Real Ear Measurements? REM is an important part of best practices in hearing care. When hearing aids are fitted without REM, it’s likely they won’t deliver their full potential, requiring more adjustments over time. With REM, your hearing aids are more likely to be set correctly from the beginning, ensuring you get the best experience with your hearing devices.
To learn more about Real Ear Measurements and how they can improve your hearing experience, contact your hearing health professional. They can guide you on how this advanced, evidence-based approach enhances comfort, accuracy, and overall hearing satisfaction.