Real Ear Verification

Real Ear Verification

At Associates of Otolaryngology, we perform real ear measurement (REM) to ensure that your hearing aids are providing correct amplification for your hearing loss. Real ear measurement is recommended by the America Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) as the ideal method of validating the performance of hearing aids.

How is Real Ear Measurement Done?

During your real ear measurement, your physician will examine the ear canal to ensure there is no debris in the ear that will interfere with the measuring. A probe tube will then be placed into the ear, and the hearing aid will be put into place. The REM system will produce sound to measure the output in the ear canal to determine the effectiveness of the hearing aid.

The method used during REM is called insertion gain. Insertion gain is the variance between the sound pressure level measured near the ear drum when a hearing aid in place, and the sound pressure level measured in the unaided ear.

The Importance of Real Ear Measurement

Unfortunately, many hearing aid fitters skip this important step of REM. It is meant to measure the performance of a hearing instrument while in the patient’s ear. This step is vital because it is used as a reference for calculation of real-ear insertion gain (REIG). It can also indicate any abnormalities in the ear canal or middle ear.

If you are in need of hearing aids, you can trust us to provide comprehensive, in-depth care to deliver you with the most effective treatment available. Contact our Denver office today to schedule a consultation to take your first steps towards clearer hearing.