What is Real Ear Measurement, and why does it matter?

Valerie Kun

Au.D., CCC-A

Kun Hearing

Real Ear Measurement (REM) is a verification step where a thin probe microphone is placed in the ear canal while hearing aids are worn, measuring exactly how much sound reaches the eardrum. Because every ear canal has a different shape and volume, two people with identical hearing loss can receive very different amounts of amplification from the same settings. REM confirms that a device is delivering the prescribed target in the actual ear rather than relying on a manufacturer's default programming or an average.