Most modern high-end HAs provide an onboard hearing ‘test’ that generates tones at various frequencies and allows the audi. to establish an audiogram based on what the HAs are delivering to the eardrum.
I’ve had REM based fittings and I’ve had the average quick fitting. For a number of reasons, I lost faith in the audi. and went down the DIY route using Phonak Target.
Of the three fitting methods, I find that using the HA onboard audiogram within the Phonak Target software gives me a way better fitting than anything I was able to achieve in the audi’s office. It provides many of the benefits of REM as it is based on the sounds actually heard by your own ears by your own HAs.
IMO, for most people, this is the best way for HAs to be managed on an ongoing basis. Having to wait weeks for an audi appointment and being rushed in and out of the office is horrible. This approach does need a DIY element, but if manufacturers were serious about helping consumers rather than audis, they would build the capability into their consumer level app.
OTC devices are allowing consumers to do this, and it will become the norm (hopefully) from the major suppliers also.