Does probe-tube verification of real-ear hearing aid amplification 1 characteristics improve outcomes in adult hearing aid users? A protocol for 2 a systematic review
Abstract
Using a probe-tube microphone to measure and adjust the real-ear 2 performance of the hearing aid to match the prescription target is recommended and widely 3 used in clinical practice. Hearing aid fitting software can approximately match the 4 amplification characteristics of the hearing aid to the prescription without real-ear 5 measurements (REM), but using REM improves the match to the prescribed target. What is 6 unclear is if the improved match results in a better patient-reported outcome. The primary 7 objective of this review is to determine whether the use of REM improves patient-reported 8 outcomes in adult hearing aid users.