When people seek out help for their hearing, how does one know when they’re hearing as well as they should be?  Isn’t hearing mostly subjective?  The answers to these very valid questions are through the use of objective testing.  Objective tests are standardized, clinically research-based exams that use the patient’s hearing levels that were obtained in the sound booth and create a target for which the correct amount of volume at the different frequencies should be obtained.   The test that’s used in our clinic is called Real Ear Measurements.  A probe (looks like a spaghetti noodle…angel hair to be precise) is placed in the patient’s ears and a sound is emitted from a speaker.  The probe measures how sound bounces around the ear.  This is very important because every person is different; kind of like fingerprints…the ear canals all vary in shape, size, volume and fundamental frequency (most people are around 2700 Hz).  This critical measure allows me to customize the volume so it’s appropriate and correct…kind of like 20/20 hearing.  Instead of asking, “How does that sound?”  I know exactly what you’re hearing and where you’re hearing it.  The patient does not know if they’re receiving too much treble or not enough bass, they just know that everything is louder..but not necessarily the correct prescription.  Real Ear Measurements verify that you’re receiving  the correct amount of bass, mid-range and treble where you need it.  This will ensure audibility and, in most cases, hearing clarity.