Real Ear Measurement in Henderson, NV
It's the step that checks your hearing aids are actually giving you what your hearing test says you need. Every fitting at Ryan's Hearing Center includes it.
What it is
After your hearing aids are programmed, we place a soft, thin tube in your ear canal, right next to the hearing aid. It's connected to a tiny microphone. We play speech at soft, average and loud levels and measure exactly what reaches your eardrum.
Then we fine-tune your hearing aids until they match the targets prescribed for your hearing loss. You just sit and listen. It doesn't hurt.
Why it matters
Every ear canal is shaped differently, and the same hearing aid can sound very different in two people. Hearing aid software starts with a "first fit," which is an estimate based on an average ear. Real Ear Measurement replaces the estimate with a measurement of your ear.
When a first fit falls short, it usually falls short on soft, high-pitched sounds. Those are the consonants that help you tell words apart, like "s," "f" and "th." That's often why people say their hearing aids are loud but not clear.
What the research shows
74%
of manufacturer-programmed fittings missed the prescribed target for soft speech by 10 dB or more at one or more pitches.
Sanders, Stoody, Weber & Mueller, Hearing Review, 2015
71%
of "quick fit" fittings were off the prescribed target by 10 dB or more.
Aazh, Moore & Prasher, American Journal of Audiology, 2012
2 out of 3
wearers preferred their verified fitting over the manufacturer's first fit after wearing both.
Abrams et al., Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 2012
Better in noise
Experienced wearers understood speech in background noise significantly better with fittings verified by Real Ear Measurement.
Amlani, Pumford & Gessling, Hearing Review, 2017
These are small studies, and some were funded by equipment makers. But they point the same way, and Real Ear Measurement is part of the Best Practice guidelines for fitting hearing aids.
Not every provider does it
A survey reported in the hearing industry found that only about a third of providers used Real Ear Measurement consistently. It takes extra equipment and extra time. If you're shopping for hearing aids, ask: "Do you use Real Ear Measurement on every fitting?"
Our answer is yes, and it's included in the price of every pair. See what's included.
Hearing aids that never sounded right?
Bring them in, even if you bought them somewhere else. We can often verify and reprogram hearing aids from the major brands. An office service visit is $89.
Questions people ask
Does it hurt?
No. The tube is soft and very thin. Most people barely notice it.
Does it cost extra?
No. It's part of every fitting when you get hearing aids from us.
Do you do it again later?
Your hearing can change over time. Your annual hearing and device evaluation is a good time to check that your hearing aids still match your hearing.
Is it the same as a hearing test?
No. A hearing test measures your hearing. Real Ear Measurement measures what your hearing aids are delivering in your ear. You need both.
Sources
- Sanders J, Stoody T, Weber J, Mueller HG. Manufacturers' NAL-NL2 fittings fail real-ear verification. Hearing Review. 2015;21(3):24.
- Aazh H, Moore BCJ, Prasher D. The accuracy of matching target insertion gains with open-fit hearing aids. American Journal of Audiology. 2012;21(2):175-180.
- Abrams HB, Chisolm TH, McManus M, McArdle R. Initial-fit approach versus verified prescription: comparing self-perceived hearing aid benefit. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2012;23(10):768-778.
- Amlani AM, Pumford J, Gessling E. Real-ear measurement and its impact on aided audibility and patient loyalty. Hearing Review. 2017;24(10):12-21.