Hi, just a simple question: am I supposed to re-do the REM after I take a new hearing test, based on the new audiogram, or will the audiologist just adapt the old REM to the updated audiogram?
Thanks in advance for your help!
The newly prescribed gain for the new audiogram, once the new audiogram is input into the software, will wipe out any REM adjustment that was made for the old prescription. The newly targeted gain curve will also most likely look different than the old targeted gain curve anyway, so you can’t really overlay anything made based on the old gain curve and apply it to the new gain curve.
Technically, even if your audiogram stays the same and you change your fitting, for example switching from an open dome to a closed dome or custom mold, the gain will need to be re-prescribed as well, and any newly prescribed gain will not have any trace of the old REM adjustment left in it anyway.
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Thank you very much!
This depends on the manufacturer. Phonak, for example, just adjust the original settings by the changes in the audiogram, whereas other manufacturers may wipe things completely and return to first-fit.
But even if the software isn’t wiping it, hearing aids should be checked regularly in testbox and/or on-ear anyway to identify malfunctions that aren’t easy to catch with just a listen check.
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Hi Neville!
Thanks for the information. I indeed have Phonak HAs.
So do you confirm that any variation in the new audiogram will be taken into account by Target, which will automatically adjust the previous settings on it and even adapt the “recommendations“ provided by the REM test to the new audiogram?
Thanks for this clarification, @Neville . I only speak from my experience with Oticon aids, so it’s good to have this perspective about other brands.
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Yes-ish. It’s been doing a pretty close job lately.
It will not do well accounting for changes in ear canal, ear drums, domes, custom tips.
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My understanding is you will do the hearing test in a sound booth that is separate from the hearing aids programming software.
Your fitter has the choice of using this information or not pending the results to program the aids.
There is a certain amount of flex in your hearing from day to day that is expected. The fitting prescription may not need to be changed. If it has changed enough the fitter will need to address programming, acoustics and possibly REM.
Yes, I will take the 2 test separately: REM with my audiologist in December and hearing at the hospital in January,
Last hearing test I did was 1 year ago and didn’t show any change compared to 5 years ago but honestly the doctor didn’t seem very accurate nor to care much…
Why not hearing test with the audiologist? They usually have more time and care than the tech at the ENT, who is testing for other purposes than fitting a hearing aid.
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Yeah, that makes sense! I wasn’t sure whether audiologists in general have better tools than ENTs for the hearing test, that’s why I had booked the ENT.
But i guess yours is the best solution!
It’s not that they have better tools (although it may just be a tech with the ENT, depending on where you are), but rather that they often have different goals. If the audiologist is testing for the purpose of fitting a hearing aid, they may be doing things differently than and ENT who is checking for hearing disorders that might have good surgical outcomes. The person testing for the ENT also regularly has half or a quarter of the time for testing compared to the audiologist.
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Yeah, all set with my audiologist! I’ll do the an hearin test with him before the REM. I expect my fitting to improve at its best after that. I never had the REM and I’m hitched by the idea that my hearing test hasn’t been done 100% accurately…
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