Why Most Audiologists Skip Real Ear Measurements

Only 30% of audiologists nationwide perform Real Ear Measurements despite being the gold standard for hearing aid fitting. Studies demonstrate that patients achieve 65% better hearing outcomes when REM is used compared to relying on manufacturer default settings alone. The most common reason for hearing aid dissatisfaction isn't the technology itself—it's improper fitting without proper verification.

At Kleckner Audiology, we believe every patient deserves the gold-standard approach to hearing aid fitting. Real Ear Measurements ensure your hearing aids are precisely calibrated for your unique ear anatomy, not programmed based on average measurements that may not match your individual needs.

What Are Real Ear Measurements?

Real Ear Measurements provide objective verification that your hearing aids are working correctly in your specific ears. During this procedure, we place a tiny probe microphone in your ear canal to measure the actual sound levels being delivered to your eardrum. This process compares what your hearing aids are programmed to deliver against what they're actually providing.

No two ears are identical in size, shape, or acoustic properties. Your ear canal's unique characteristics affect how sound travels and resonates, making individualized verification critical for optimal performance. REM takes these personal factors into account, ensuring your hearing aids deliver the precise amplification you need across all frequencies.

The measurement process involves placing the probe tube approximately 5 millimeters from your eardrum, then testing your hearing aids at various volume levels. We can see in real-time whether your devices are meeting the prescriptive targets based on your audiogram and hearing loss pattern.

Why REM Represents the Gold Standard

The American Academy of Audiology recommends Real Ear Measurements for all hearing aid fittings because this verification method accounts for individual ear canal size, shape, and acoustic resonance. Without REM, audiologists rely solely on manufacturer software that uses average ear measurements—an approach that may not provide optimal results for your specific anatomy.

REM ensures hearing aids meet prescribed amplification targets without over-amplification that could damage your remaining hearing. This verification step is particularly important because improperly fitted hearing aids can potentially cause further hearing loss if they're delivering excessive sound levels.

The procedure also verifies that advanced features like directional microphones, noise reduction algorithms, and Bluetooth streaming are calibrated correctly for your ears. Modern hearing aids from manufacturers like Phonak Infinio, Oticon Intent, and Starkey Edge AI include sophisticated AI-driven features that require precise calibration to function optimally.

Common Reasons Practices Skip This Step

Time and Equipment Constraints

REM adds 15-20 minutes to each fitting appointment, which can significantly impact a practice's daily schedule. Many audiology offices operate under time pressures that make comprehensive verification challenging to implement consistently.

The specialized equipment required for Real Ear Measurements represents a substantial investment, typically costing $10,000-$15,000 for professional-grade systems. Some practices prioritize appointment volume over quality verification procedures, viewing the additional time as reducing their efficiency rather than improving patient outcomes.

Training and Expertise Gaps

Not all audiologists receive comprehensive REM training during their education or continuing education programs. The procedure requires specific technical knowledge and ongoing education to stay current with best practices and evolving protocols.

Some practitioners rely primarily on manufacturer software defaults, assuming that computer-generated programming based on audiogram data provides adequate results. While modern hearing aid software has become more sophisticated, it cannot replace the individualized verification that REM provides.

The Lehigh Valley Reality

An estimated 70% of audiology practices in the Lehigh Valley don't routinely perform Real Ear Measurements. Many patients in our area receive hearing aids that are adjusted only through computer software, without verification of actual performance in their ears.

This situation results in higher return rates and patient dissatisfaction, as hearing aids may not provide the expected improvement in speech understanding or comfort. Growing awareness among educated consumers is creating demand for proper verification procedures, with patients increasingly asking about REM during their consultations.

The lack of routine REM usage means many local residents aren't receiving optimal hearing aid performance, despite investing thousands of dollars in advanced hearing technology.

Impact on Patient Outcomes Without REM

Immediate Fitting Problems

When hearing aids aren't verified through Real Ear Measurements, they may be too loud in some frequencies while remaining too quiet in others. This imbalance can cause speech to sound unclear or distorted, making conversations difficult even with hearing aids in place.

Background noise may become overwhelming because noise reduction features aren't properly calibrated for your specific hearing loss pattern. Patients often require frequent adjustment appointments because the initial fitting wasn't optimized for their individual ear characteristics.

Long-term Consequences

Poor initial fittings lead to reduced hearing aid satisfaction and decreased daily usage hours. When hearing aids don't provide clear, comfortable sound, patients are more likely to abandon them entirely—a phenomenon known as the "drawer effect" where expensive devices end up unused in dresser drawers.

Over-amplification in certain frequencies can potentially cause further hearing damage, while under-amplification fails to provide the speech understanding benefits that motivated the hearing aid purchase. This represents a wasted investment in hearing technology that could have been prevented through proper verification.

The REM Process at Our Practice

Step-by-Step Verification

We begin by inserting the probe tube microphone 5 millimeters from your eardrum, ensuring accurate measurement of sound levels at the location where hearing occurs. Your hearing aids are then programmed using your audiogram data and tested at multiple volume levels.

Real ear measurements are taken to compare actual output against prescriptive targets, with adjustments made to match the exact amplification requirements for your hearing loss. This verification process is repeated until we achieve optimal settings across all frequencies and volume levels.

Patient Experience

The REM procedure is comfortable and painless, taking an additional 15-20 minutes during your fitting appointment. You'll receive immediate verification that your hearing aids are properly optimized for your specific ears, providing confidence that your investment will deliver the expected benefits.

We show you the measurement results, explaining how your actual ear canal acoustics compare to average values and what adjustments were made based on these findings.

Questions to Ask Your Audiologist

When considering hearing aid services, ask directly: "Do you perform Real Ear Measurements for all fittings?" Request to see the verification results and ask how your actual measurements compare to the prescribed targets.

Watch for red flags like audiologists claiming REM is "unnecessary" or "outdated," fitting appointments completed in under 30 minutes total, or reluctance to explain the verification process. Professional practices should welcome questions about their fitting procedures and be equipped with visible measurement equipment.

Benefits of REM-Verified Fittings

Patients who receive REM-verified hearing aid fittings experience up to 65% better speech understanding outcomes compared to those fitted with manufacturer defaults alone. This verification reduces the need for multiple adjustment appointments and provides higher long-term satisfaction with hearing aid performance.

REM protects against over-amplification damage while ensuring you receive optimal performance from advanced features like the AI processing in Starkey Edge AI, the Spheric Speech Clarity in Phonak Infinio Sphere, or the RealTime Conversation Enhancement in Signia IX devices.

Experience the Difference at Kleckner Audiology

We include Real Ear Measurements as standard practice in all our hearing aid fittings, ensuring you receive gold-standard care right here in Allentown without needing to travel to major medical centers. Our evidence-based approach to hearing healthcare means your hearing aids are precisely calibrated for optimal performance from the first day.

Schedule your comprehensive hearing evaluation with our team to experience the difference proper verification makes. Don't settle for "good enough" hearing aid performance when optimal results are available through professional Real Ear Measurement verification.