Real Ear Measurement verifies that your hearing aids are actually delivering the right amount of sound in your ear, not just on the manufacturer’s screen. It is the single biggest difference between a fitting that works and one that disappoints.
The short answer: Real Ear Measurement (REM) is a verification test performed during a hearing aid fitting. A thin probe microphone sits in your ear canal while you wear your hearing aids, measuring the exact sound that reaches your eardrum. Your audiologist then fine-tunes the devices until they match a validated prescription for your hearing loss. Without it, your fitting is an educated guess.
When a hearing aid is programmed, the fitting software produces a "first fit": the manufacturer’s estimate of the right settings for an average ear with your audiogram. The problem is that no one has an average ear. Every ear canal has its own length, volume, and shape, and those differences change how sound behaves. The same device, with the same settings, can be too quiet in one ear and harsh in another.
Professional best-practice guidelines from the major audiology organizations call for verification, yet in practice many dispensers skip it because it takes time and equipment. In our clinic, a common story we hear from new patients is: "I spent thousands and they never put a probe in my ear." If that sounds familiar, your hearing aids may have far more to give.
A mid-range hearing aid fitted properly will outperform a premium one fitted poorly.
Every hearing aid fitting at Pinnacle Audiology is doctor-led and verified with Real Ear Measurement, whether the device is from Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Signia, Starkey, ReSound, or another manufacturer, and whether you bought it from us or somewhere else. If your current devices have never sounded right, a re-programming and verification visit at our Midtown Manhattan or Garden City office is often the fastest fix; see also why your hearing aids might not be working.
No. The probe is a soft, thin tube; the measurement adds roughly 15 to 20 minutes to a fitting.
OTC devices are self-fit by design, which is part of why results vary. Many can still be measured, and a professional check tells you what they are actually delivering. See our OTC hearing aid guide.
Often, yes. We regularly verify and re-program devices purchased elsewhere, including through our transfer of care service.
About the reviewer: Dr. Eric G. Nelson, Au.D., CCC-A, is a board certified Doctor of Audiology, founder and clinical director of Pinnacle Audiology, and a former audiology supervisor at Weill Cornell Medicine. This article is educational and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.
Related topics: real ear measurement, REM hearing aids, verified hearing aid fitting NYC, hearing aid programming Manhattan, why hearing aids do not sound clear, best hearing aid fitting New York, audiologist Garden City, Pinnacle Audiology.
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