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Once a hearing device is selected, a proper fitting is essential for successful hearing aid outcomes. At Fort Bend Hearing, we take pride in providing the “gold standard” of hearing healthcare and believe in following audiology best practices, which include conducting real ear measurements during hearing aid fitting.
Real ear measurements are considered best practices in the field of audiology and are the gold standard for accurate hearing aid fittings.
What is real ear measurement? Real ear measures are the audiologists’ way of verifying the hearing devices are fit for prescriptive targets. With real-ear testing, providers can measure the actual sound delivered by the hearing aid and takes the patient’s distinct ear anatomy into account, allowing for a more personalized and customized fitting.
Not all audiologists or hearing aid dispensers conduct real ear measures when fitting a hearing aid. At Fort Bend Hearing, we ensure that real ear measurements are part of our standard hearing aid fitting protocol.
We believe in best practices to give patients the best, world-class hearing healthcare they deserve.
Before the hearing aid fitting, a hearing test will be performed to determine the softest sound a patient can hear at various pitches and the loudest sound that a patient can accommodate.
Based on the hearing test results, the audiologist will have a baseline of how much gain and compression the hearing device needs to amplify soft sounds and compress loud sounds. Noise or feedback picked up by the hearing aids will be adjusted as necessary.
Hearing aids vary depending on their level of technology and design. Your budget, personal style, and lifestyle will all be discussed at your hearing aid fitting session.
Our audiologists at Fort Bend Hearing will walk you through different hearing aids and their relevant features according to your hearing requirements as determined through your hearing test.
During the hearing aid fitting, real earmeasurementst will also be performed to ensure that the hearing aids you will be or are using (regardless of the brand) provide the correct amount of amplification in every range and frequency.
Real ear measurements are performed by inserting a thin, flexible tube into the ear canal. This tube is connected to a calibrated microphone that is designed to measure the volume of sound that reaches the patient’s eardrum.
Then, the patient’s hearing device will be inserted along with the probe tube, and they will be asked to listen to a speech passage presented at varying levels of loudness. The probe tube will measure the output of the hearing aid and verify the device is fit appropriately, according to research-backed prescriptive targets.
Successful hearing aid fittings have a common denominator – real ear measurement. Without accurate verification and real ear measurement, the performance of even the most expensive hearing aids will be a hit or miss.
In one study tackling the effect of real-ear verification on hearing aid benefits, participants noticed a great improvement in speech intelligibility and comfort when they were fitted with hearing devices using target-matched programming.
Each hearing loss is unique and there’s no generic hearing aid setting or profile that supersedes the accuracy of hearing aid fitting with real ear measurement. Through real ear measurement, audiologists can provide the closest amount of amplification needed for a patient’s hearing requirements.
Not all audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals practice real ear measurements during the hearing aid fitting procedure. Audiologists at Fort Bend Hearing are trained and highly-experienced when it comes to hearing aid fitting using real ear measurements.
Once the hearing devices are programmed and fitted according to your hearing requirements, we will then discuss basic hearing aid care and maintenance. This includes insertion/removal of hearing aids and changing/recharging of batteries.
Are you ready to hear better?
Fort Bend Hearing provides comprehensive preventative, diagnostic and rehabilitation hearing services for pediatric and adult patients. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
Are you ready to hear better?
Fort Bend Hearing provides comprehensive preventative, diagnostic and rehabilitation hearing services for pediatric and adult patients. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
Audiologists Providing Hearing Aid Fittings in Fort Bend County, Texas
Managing hearing loss takes more than just acquiring a powerful or modern hearing aid. Accurate hearing aid fitting, adjustment and programming combined with an audiologist’s expertise and support from family all work together to ensure a successful hearing journey.
Fort Bend Hearing is an authorized provider of the best hearing aid brands in the industry including Phonak, Lyric, Oticon, ReSound, and Widex.
Our goal is to provide our patients with the best world-class hearing healthcare in Fort Bend County, Texas.
If you have any questions or concerns about hearing aid fitting and other services we offer, we are just one call away.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!