What Real Ear Measurement Feels Like From a Patient's Perspective

Real ear measurement is completely painless and takes only a few minutes during your hearing aid fitting appointment. Many of our patients initially feel nervous about this step, but we want to share what the experience is actually like to help ease any concerns you might have about this important verification process.

When we first mention real ear measurement to our patients, many honestly have no idea what we're talking about. Like many active adults in the St. Louis community who want to continue enjoying conversations at book clubs, hearing grandchildren clearly at family gatherings, and participating fully in church activities, they want to ensure their hearing aids will work properly in all these situations.

The Simple Process That Makes All the Difference

The real ear measurement itself is surprisingly straightforward. We place a tiny, thin tube - much thinner than a strand of spaghetti - gently into your ear canal alongside your new hearing aid. This probe microphone sits comfortably without any discomfort or pressure. Most patients tell us they barely feel it at all.

The entire measurement process takes less than 10 minutes and involves no pain or discomfort whatsoever. You'll sit comfortably in our treatment chair while various sounds are played through speakers in the room. The probe microphone measures exactly how much sound is reaching your eardrum with the hearing aids in place.

What patients often find most reassuring is how methodical and precise the process feels. This isn't guesswork - we're measuring the actual sound levels in your ear canal to ensure your hearing aids are providing exactly the right amount of amplification for your specific hearing loss.

Why This Step Matters for Active Adults

For patients who stay busy with tennis, volunteering, hosting dinner parties, or other community activities, hearing aids need to work perfectly in all these different situations. Real ear measurement ensures the programming matches not just your hearing test results, but how sound actually behaves in your individual ear canal.

Real ear measurement verifies that your hearing aids provide the precise amplification your ears need, accounting for the unique acoustics of your ear canal shape and size. Every person's ears are different, just like fingerprints. Without this verification step, hearing aids might be under-amplified or over-amplified, leading to poor performance or discomfort.

During measurements, we check multiple frequency ranges to ensure speech sounds are being amplified appropriately. This attention to detail means you can confidently participate in conversations at meetings, social gatherings, or family events without constantly asking people to repeat themselves.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Your appointment begins with us explaining each step of the process. First, we examine your ears to ensure they're clear of wax - something that can affect the accuracy of the measurements. Then comes the initial hearing aid fitting and programming based on your audiogram results.

The probe microphone placement feels similar to having your ears examined - gentle and brief. The thin tube curves naturally into your ear canal and stays in place easily. You'll hear various tones and speech sounds played at different volumes while the measurement system records the data.

Many patients find it fascinating to watch the computer screen showing real-time measurements of how sound is being delivered to their eardrums. We make several small adjustments to your hearing aid programming based on these precise measurements, fine-tuning the devices to match your prescription exactly.

The Confidence This Process Provides

What impresses patients most about real ear measurement is the confidence it gives them in their hearing aids. Rather than hoping the devices are programmed correctly, they know they're verified to meet their specific needs. This scientific approach means you can trust your hearing aids to perform well whether you're chatting with friends at a Cardinals game or listening to a granddaughter's piano recital.

Patients who receive real ear measurement during their fitting typically experience better hearing aid satisfaction and fewer follow-up appointments for adjustments. The precision of this verification step reduces the trial-and-error period that some people experience when hearing aids aren't properly verified.

The measurements also provide a baseline for future appointments. As your hearing naturally changes over time, we can refer back to these initial measurements to make appropriate adjustments and ensure your hearing aids continue performing optimally.

Addressing Common Concerns

Before their appointment, many patients worry the measurement might be uncomfortable or time-consuming. These concerns are completely unfounded. The probe microphone is so thin and flexible that it causes no discomfort. The measurement process takes less time than most people expect, and many find it interesting to learn about the technology.

Some patients worry about the probe microphone affecting their hearing aid fit, but this isn't an issue. The tube is designed to work alongside hearing aids without interfering with their normal operation. Once the measurements are complete, the probe is simply removed, leaving your hearing aids properly fitted and programmed.

The Professional Difference at Greentree

What sets our practice apart is our commitment to best practice hearing aid fittings, including real ear measurement as a standard part of our service. Real ear measurement is considered the gold standard for hearing aid verification and is recommended by professional audiology organizations. This scientific approach ensures your investment in better hearing provides the maximum benefit for your active lifestyle.

We provide personalized attention that makes the entire experience comfortable and educational. Rather than rushing through appointments, audiologist John Scarlas takes time to explain what the measurements show and how they relate to your daily listening needs.

Experience the Difference for Yourself

If you're considering hearing aids and want the confidence that comes with proper verification, real ear measurement should be part of your fitting process. The brief, painless procedure ensures your hearing aids work exactly as intended for your unique ears and lifestyle needs.

At Greentree Hearing & Audiology, we provide comprehensive hearing aid fittings that include real ear measurement as standard practice. This scientific approach to hearing aid programming helps ensure you get the most from your investment in better hearing, whether you're staying active in the community or enjoying precious moments with family and friends.

Schedule a consultation with our experienced audiologists to learn how real ear measurement can help you achieve optimal hearing aid performance. Call (314) 835-9996 to experience the difference that proper hearing aid verification makes for your active St. Louis lifestyle.