The Gold Standard of Fitting Verification (Q3 2025)-The Gold Standard of Fitting Verification

The Gold Standard of Fitting Verification

Pdf Summary

The 2025 International Hearing Society (IHS) feature section "The Art of Hearing Aid Programming" highlights the critical skills and best practices hearing care professionals must master to optimize hearing aid fittings. The section includes articles by experts Bonnie Jo Havoc, BC-HIS, Brian Hill, MS, MBA, CCC-A, F-AAA, and others, focusing on verification, outcome measurement, and tinnitus amplification.<br /><br />Bonny Jo Havoc and Brian Hill emphasize that successful hearing aid fittings require patient-centered, measurable, specific, attainable, and personalized outcomes that align with individual listening needs. Verification through real ear measurement (REM) and live speech mapping is described as the "gold standard" for fitting accuracy, ensuring speech intelligibility, loudness restoration within the user’s dynamic hearing range, and comfort. REM objectively quantifies hearing aid output matched to prescriptive targets directly in the patient’s ear canal, surpassing statistical first fits from manufacturer software that rely on average ear data and can lead to suboptimal results.<br /><br />The authors warn that neglecting REM can result in poor audibility and patient dissatisfaction, as the reduced dynamic range characteristic of hearing loss makes precise tuning essential. Live speech mapping quickly verifies audibility of soft, average, and loud speech, reassuring both specialist and patient of benefit and comfort. The practice improves outcomes, reduces returns, and strengthens provider reputation. Havoc and Hill conclude that while audibility is not a guarantee of understanding, inaudible sounds can never be understood, underscoring REM’s necessity.<br /><br />Additionally, IHS offers continuing education credits for reading featured articles and taking online quizzes, supporting ongoing professional development in advanced hearing aid programming techniques.

Keywords

International Hearing Society

hearing aid programming

hearing aid fittings

Bonnie Jo Havoc

Brian Hill

real ear measurement

live speech mapping

verification

tinnitus amplification

continuing education