Not everyone who gets fitted with hearing aids walks away with a great experience.
Often, this isn’t because the technology is lacking – it’s because most fittings don’t account for the unique shape and acoustics of each person’s ear. That missing precision can affect clarity, comfort, and overall hearing aid performance.
If your hearing aids don’t sound quite right, the fitting process itself could be the reason. That’s why we use Real Ear Measurement (REM) during our fittings. It’s the gold standard for ensuring your hearing aids deliver the amplification your ears actually need.
What is Real Ear Measurement (REM)?
Real Ear Measurement is a clinical method audiologists use to program hearing aids based on actual sound levels measured inside your ear canal – not estimates or averages. Just like no two ear shapes are identical, the amplification needs inside each canal vary as well.
REM helps us confirm that:
- You’re receiving the right amount of amplification at each frequency
- Speech sounds land where they should – clear, balanced, and comfortable
- Your settings match your real-world listening environments more accurately than factory presets ever could
It’s the most objective and reliable way to personalise a hearing aid fitting.
How Does Real Ear Measurement Work?
During REM:
- A very thin microphone is gently placed into your ear canal, ending about half an inch from the eardrum.
- With your hearing aid in place, we play calibrated sounds through the device.
- The microphone records how those sounds behave in your ear canal.
We then compare this real-ear output to the amplification levels recommended for your hearing loss.
If adjustments are needed, we fine-tune your hearing aid settings until the two closely match.
This back-and-forth process ensures accuracy, comfort, and natural-sounding clarity.
Why Do You Need Real Ear Measurements?
Higher satisfaction rates
Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that 4 out of 5 people prefer REM-verified fittings over fittings done with standard manufacturer presets.
REM also improves speech understanding – by up to 15% in background noise – because settings are tailored to your ear rather than generalised.
More scientific and reliable
Without REM, adjustments rely heavily on what a patient thinks they hear during the fitting.
But perception can fluctuate, and small changes aren’t always noticeable in the moment.
REM removes guesswork by showing:
- How your hearing aids actually output sound
- Whether amplification matches your hearing prescription
- Where fine-tuning is needed for clearer speech and a more balanced sound
It is a more objective, data-driven way to ensure the best performance.
Based on your unique ear shape
REM doesn’t just consider your hearing loss – it considers your anatomy.
Ear canal size, shape, and acoustics can significantly affect how sound travels:
- Larger ear canals often require more amplification
- Narrower canals may need less
- Factory settings can’t account for these differences
Standard fittings use programmed estimates. REM uses real sound measurements, right at your eardrum, for precise accuracy.
Better long-term outcomes
REM fittings reduce the need for repeated follow-ups, prevent under- or over-amplification, and give patients a more natural listening experience from day one.
Yet, fewer than 30% of hearing care providers routinely use REM – not because it isn’t effective, but because it requires additional training, time, and specialised equipment.
We believe the improved accuracy is worth it.
