A modified hearing aid fitting procedure using both real ear and 2cc coupler measurement system

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatric Hearing Healthcare
• Acoustics

Background:

• Real ear to coupler differences (RECDs) are crucial for accurate hearing aid fitting.
• Current fitting procedures can be time-consuming, especially for pediatric patients.
• Utilizing average RECDs in prefitting may streamline the process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity of using average RECDs for prefitting hearing aids in children.
• To determine if the majority of pediatric RECDs fall within a 5 dB range of the average RECDs.
• To identify optimal test frequencies for prefitting procedures.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted with 116 pediatric participants.
• Real ear to coupler differences (RECDs) were measured using a 2cc coupler system.
• RECDs were analyzed at various test frequencies and age groups to assess deviation from the average.

Main Results:

• Approximately 90% of test subjects' RECDs for saturation sound pressure levels (SSPLs) were within 5 dB of the average.
• Around 70% of RECDs for gain were within 5 dB of the average across important test frequencies.
• The frequencies of 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 Hz were identified as appropriate for prefitting.

Conclusions:

• Average RECDs are a valid and efficient tool for prefitting hearing aids in children.
• This method can significantly reduce overall hearing aid fitting test time.
• Recommended prefitting test frequencies include 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 Hz for pediatric audiology.