What Are Real Ear Measurements?
In the past, hearing evaluations and fittings for hearing aids consisted mostly of a series of beeps and noises. Today, audiologists are equipped with new technologies and methods to make the hearing evaluation process and hearing aid programming process more effective.
One of the more advanced technologies available is real ear measurements, an objective method of fitting hearing aids. This process uses specialized microphones and speech and tonal stimuli to help the audiologist adjust hearing aids to the right settings for each wearer. Real ear measurements make fitting appointments more interactive and can reduce the number of office visits required for successful hearing aid programming by ensuring we are meeting prescriptive targets for your hearing loss.
What is live speech mapping?
Live speech mapping is a hearing aid verification method that is used to ensure that your hearing aids are programmed for your individual needs. With this method, small microphones placed in the ear canal are used to measure the response of the hearing aid in your ear taking into account the natural and individual characteristics of both your ear and your hearing loss.
Your hearing care professional will have high-tech equipment that will allow him or her to “see” what you are hearing through your hearing aids on a screen in real-time. The results may also be displayed on a wall-mounted screen so that you can also see the adjustments and participate in the process. This allows both you and your family members to visualize and understand the differences that hearing aids can make in your hearing ability.
Benefits of Real Ear Measurements
Real ear measurements are known for accuracy. Objective verification, other methods to program your hearing aid increases the chances that your hearing aid programming is performed correctly and achieving prescriptive targets for amplification of your hearing loss.
Live speech mapping also creates a much more positive fitting experience by allowing both you and your family to see the immediate results of your hearing aids and their positive impact on your ability to hear.
If you have a hearing loss, you may not be able to fully understand what you can and cannot hear, and therefore, you may not understand everything you are missing. With speech mapping, you will have the ability to hear the improvements immediately, and you will be shown exactly what you can and cannot hear in real-time.
Benefits of real ear measurements:
- Focuses on the important and basic function of being able to effectively hear human speech
- Engages both you and your family in the fitting process
- Provides immediate and tangible results
- Shown to increase successful outcomes of fittings
- Increases your confidence and comfort in using your new hearing aids
- Provides more accurate programming of hearing aids
- Reduces number of return visits
Contact your audiologist to find out how live speech mapping can provide you with a more enjoyable hearing aid mapping experience.