Real ear measurement or REM is an audiometric technique that’s used to assess the effectiveness of hearing aids. REM is designed to guarantee that the hearing aid user receives the highest possible level of audio quality and comprehension of speech from their device.
A comparison is made between the actual ear measurements and the patient’s established hearing threshold. Based on the results of a hearing test, the hearing aid can be adjusted to deliver the highest possible sound quality.
Real Ear Measurements
Perhaps you, or friends or family you know of, have been fitted with hearings aids but still struggle to hear with them. Some sounds are louder but speech is still difficult to understand.
Often, one of the main reasons people are not hearing well with their hearing aids is because they were simply programmed to the manufacturer’s settings and not customized to their own ears and hearing needs, with no in-ear measurements to ensure they were fitted accurately.
Our office uses the gold standard of hearing aid programming- Real Ear Measurements- to make sure soft and conversational speech is audible and programmed within your hearing range. We ensure that the technology you are investing in is fine-tuned to your ears and hearing needs.
What Is Real Ear Measurement?
Real Ear Measurement is a type of real ear measurement that verifies that your hearing aids are fit and accurately programmed for your hearing loss.
First, small microphones are placed in your ears with and without your hearing aids, and calibrated sounds are played. This allows the unique acoustics of your ear canal to be measured.
Next, speech sounds are played at different volume levels with the hearing aids in your ears, and programming adjustments are made to ensure, soft and conversational speech are audible and within your hearing range. High-tech equipment will allow you to “see” what you are hearing.
This video shows you the process.
Why Real Ear Measurement?
Imagine going to the eye doctor, and rather than glasses being prescribed base on a vision exam, you are told to select the best glasses from yourself from a pile of glasses on the table. Do you think you would get the most accurate prescription?
This is often what happens without Real Ear Measurement. Hearing aids are programmed based on an estimated prescription, and then the hearing provider asks you to describe how they sound. They then make adjustments based on your perception of the sound. The problem is, your perception may not be accurate, as you have gotten used to not hearing many of the sounds that you’re supposed to be hearing.
With Real Ear Measurement, there is no guessing and you don’t ever have to wonder if your investment was worth it. Your hearing aids are programmed to meet soft and conversational speech targets.
Real ear measurements VS pre-programmed settings
One of the primary reasons that people are not highly satisfied with their hearing aid is because the device was merely programmed to the pre-programmed settings of the manufacturer. The absence of real ear measurements and lack of customization is a big factor in hearing aid performance.
Real ear measurements are the industry standard for hearing aid programming, and Oracle Hearing Center uses this verification technique to ensure that even soft sounds and conversational speech are clear and audible for your hearing range.
Through real ear measurement, we can guarantee that the device you are investing in is accurately programmed to your ears so it can appropriately address your hearing loss in the best possible way.
Hearing aids and audiologists in Lawrenceville, NJ
We hope that you now have a better understanding and appreciation of ear measurements. We are not saying that audiologists and hearing aid dispensers who do not perform real ear verification are doing it incorrectly; however, if you wish to get the most out of your hearing aids, we urge that you contact an audiologist who practices real ear measurements.
At Oracle Hearing Center, we are driven by a passion to help our patients experience a significant improvement in their hearing. Through cutting-edge real ear measurement tools, we will be able to program your hearing aids to give you the best listening experience possible.
Contact us today to make an appointment!