What is Prescriptive Fitting? And What You Need to Know Before Purchasing Hearing Aids

Courtesy of Sound Hearing Care

The Importance of Technological Fitting in Hearing Aids: Why Pelican Hearing Stands Out

Pelican Hearing sets itself apart by delivering the most accurate and effective hearing aid solutions through advanced technological methods.

Their focus on scientific approaches, particularly real-ear measurements (REM), ensures that each hearing aid is tailored to the unique needs of every patient.

While many clinics rely on subjective methods, Pelican Hearing demonstrates how objective, data-driven techniques lead to superior results.

Setting a Higher Standard

Surprisingly, less than 30% of hearing aid dispensers—both audiologists and specialists across the United States—adhere to our rigorous scientific standards necessary for accurate hearing aid fitting.

The majority rely on subjective methods that are unreliable, inconsistent, and incapable of delivering precise amplification.

In contrast, Pelican Hearing sets a higher benchmark, requiring all its audiologists and specialists to excel in advanced fitting techniques. This commitment ensures that every patient receives exceptional, customized care.

Why Subjective Adjustments Fall Short

Many clinics depend on subjective methods when fitting hearing aids, adjusting settings based on the user’s feedback about how the devices sound.

However, this approach has significant shortcomings. Users are often unable to accurately identify where amplification is needed, or which specific frequencies require adjustment to improve their hearing experience.

As a result, subjective fittings lead to inconsistent outcomes and fail to deliver a truly prescriptive solution for addressing hearing loss.

Without an objective, scientific process, users may not achieve optimal amplification tailored to their unique needs.

What are Probe Microphone or Real Ear Measures?

Probe microphone measures, also known as Real-Ear Measurements (REM), are a technique used to evaluate the performance of hearing aids directly in the user's ear canal.

This involves placing a small probe microphone near the eardrum to measure the sound pressure levels (SPL) delivered by the hearing aid.

Here's why they are considered superior for fitting hearing aids:

1. Personalized Fitting: Everyone's ear canal is unique, and its shape can significantly affect how sound is amplified.

   Probe microphone measures account for these individual differences, ensuring the hearing aid is tailored to the user's specific ear anatomy.

2. Accurate Verification: These measures provide precise data about the amplification levels at different frequencies, confirming that the hearing aid matches the prescribed settings for the user's hearing loss.

3. Speech Understanding: By fine-tuning the hearing aid based on real-ear measurements, users often experience better speech intelligibility and overall satisfaction.

   
   

4. Avoiding Over-Amplification: Without REM, there's a risk of over-amplifying sounds, which can cause discomfort or even further damage to hearing. Probe microphone measures help avoid this by ensuring the amplification is just right.

   
   

5. Objective and Reliable: Unlike subjective methods, such as relying on the user's feedback alone, probe microphone measures provide objective and repeatable results.

   
   

Courtesy of AudioScan

Pelican Hearing’s Unique Approach

Pelican Hearing goes beyond the status quo by requiring all of its audiologists and hearing aid specialists to use real-ear measurements.

This ensures every hearing aid is fitted with precision and meets the exact amplification needs of the patient.

With decades of research showing that objective, prescriptive methods provide significantly better outcomes, Pelican Hearing’s commitment to technology guarantees better speech clarity, comfort, and overall satisfaction.