Can carrots help you hear better?

Although this is a trick question, our hearing aid patients at the Ear, Nose & Throat Group would smile and answer, “Yes”.

The word “carrots” is part of a speech test that is used routinely to measure the efficacy of a hearing aid.  This test is referred to as a real ear, probe mic, or speech mapping. Real-Ear testing is the only accurate method of measuring the actual performance of a hearing aid.

With real ear measures, a small flexible tube connected to a microphone is inserted into the ear canal.  This microphone enables the audiologist to directly measure the hearing aid response to different levels of speech. The sounds detected by this “probe-tube” system reveal the real-ear output of the hearing aid by capturing the actual sounds reaching the eardrum.

A speech passage that contains all parts of speech is presented and measured at soft, average, and loud levels. The responses are measured and the hearing aids can be accurately adjusted. Real ear measures should be done routinely during every hearing aid selection procedure and repeated routinely during follow-up appointments.

Unfortunately, most people who get hearing aids rarely participate in this recommended procedure of verification. Today’s hearing aids are predominantly digital hearing aids, programmed and adjusted through software provided by the manufacturer. Even a manufacturer’s software may be limited when it comes to assuring accuracy. Furthermore, too many fitters only rely on patient questioning and feedback to determine accuracy – an inaccurate method at best. Others are confusing “integrated real ear” products as providing the same important measures which are also inaccurate.

As board certified doctors of the American Academy of Audiology, we adhere to the highest standards and techniques available to assure the most accurate fitting procedures proven by scientific research.

With the advent of digital technology, hearing aids are even more capable of better performance. Measuring these aids using only the latest scientific protocols is important in order to accurately verify the programming.  Anything less is simply a guess at performance and may well be the reason so many wearers wonder why they are not receiving the maximum benefit from their hearing aid.

Everyone deserves hearing health care that adheres to the highest standards of care. At the Ear, Nose & Throat Group, we offer our patients the highest level of care possible.

Found in two Memphis locations, our Doctor of Audiology staff can show you the difference, so you can literally hear the difference.

Marilyn A. Gresham, Au.D - Marilyn A. Gresham, Au.D., Director of Audiology, earned her Masters degree at the University of Memphis and a Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida in 2000. She has been a practicing audiologist for over 25 years, is licensed by the State of Tennessee, and certified by the American Speech & Hearing Association. She is a Board Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.