To investigate whether the accuracy of initial hearing aid amplification verified by real ear measurement (REM) predicts long-term fitting outcomes after one year, and to identify frequency-specific predictors associated with sustained fitting precision.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Prioritise high-frequency REM accuracy at the initial fitting visit, as this study identifies it as a predictor of one-year outcomes; clinicians should audit their first-fit verification protocols accordingly.
Demonstrating that first-fit REM accuracy—particularly at high frequencies—forecasts long-term outcomes strengthens the evidence base for mandatory REM verification and may shift clinical quality standards.
- 01Real ear measurement accuracy at first fitting predicts hearing aid outcomes at one year.
- 02High-frequency amplification accuracy emerged as the key frequency-specific predictor.
- 03Findings support REM as a clinically essential—not optional—verification step.
- 04Study published in Journal of Clinical Medicine (PMID 42590183).
- 05Results could inform fitting protocols and quality benchmarks across audiology practices.
Initial high-frequency amplification accuracy (via REM) predicts long-term hearing aid fitting outcomes at one year.
studysupportedFrequency-specific predictors of long-term outcomes were identified, with high frequencies being the most predictive.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42590183
- DOI
- 10.3390/jcm15156081.
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Hearing aid users assessed at initial fitting and followed up at one year
- Intervention
- Real ear measurement-guided hearing aid amplification at initial fitting
Primary outcomes
Long-term hearing aid fitting outcomes at one year; Frequency-specific amplification accuracy predictors