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Audiologist threw a curve ball at me… Health anxiety and real-ear measurements (REM)

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Edited

I had one done, and she touched my ear drum with the probe. it made me feel very uncomfortable and i’m still having anxiety about whether or not it’s worsened my hearing. She was an expert in REM regardless, but her settings have been wiped clean and she was two hours from me so i’m not seeing her anymore.

the audiologist 8 minutes from me said she does REM, but at the end of my appointment she told me she’s never done it before and a team from the REM company is coming to train her and she wants to use me as the “guinea pig” and “test subject”

I have a lot of anxiety about the placement of the tubes and her ability. What would you do? would you skip this and find a new doctor? Are my concerns reasonable?

i also hated the loudness level test and my ears are still ringing from it. I have a guy who is not an audiologist but a hearing aid technician who i felt absolutely safe with and comfortable who can help me out but he might not have REM. should i just see him instead?

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@monke said:

i’m still having anxiety about whether or not it’s worsened my hearing.

Why don’t you have another hearing test done to lessen your anxiety on whether your hearing has got worse?

Hey Zebras, that’s not a bad idea, but ultimately my main anxiety is about what to do regarding my upcoming appointment with the audiologist who has never done before but wants to attempt to learn on me. I’m worried she’ll perforate my ear drum. I’ve seen many of your comments. Have you personally used REM for your fitting or has it been unnecessary for you?

Personally I would not let her do the . You already have anxiety from your previous experience so if it were me, I would get the hearing test done to set your mind at rest about the hearing and find someone else who is more experienced.

I’d personally go with it as she’ll be supervised by people who train people to do . It should be textbook REM. However it really doesn’t matter what I’d do. You’re the one who has to deal with your anxiety.

I’d go for it but just tell them beforehand my anxiety about the test and why. It’ll be a very accurate test as it’ll be supervised and double checked.

“Thumping” the eardrum is one of the ways some professionals use to position the probe. It does not hurt
anything and will not make your hearing worse. The probes are soft enough they can not pucture the tymmpanic membrane. Do not be afraid of , done properly it will help get you the best fitting.

Thumping hurts some patients for sure. For most it’s just weird or uncomfortable or nothing.

But yes, you can slam it against your eardrum all day long and it will not perforate or cause hearing loss.

If you’re the guinea pig, is your appointment free? If an expert is going to be there I’d go for it. But if you have unmanageable anxiety about it, then choosing not to do it is fine.

I have been wearing aids for 20 years. I have had many test and I guess it has just become a standard procedure for me. My audiologist places the tiny microphones in my ear canals and I never really notice it. Also I havw had so many impressions done for custom ear molds that having something in my ear canals feel natural.

In reply to @Neville

@Neville said:

If you’re the guinea pig, is your appointment free? If an expert is going to be there I’d go for it. But if you have unmanageable anxiety about it, then choosing not to do it is fine.

This. My thoughts exactly. Maybe take the little white pill a half hour before the appt?

WH

In reply to @MDB

I was thinking the same - the training team will undoubtedly make sure things are done properly. A team of pros is a definite plus in my book!

In reply to @gorgeguy

I just had done for the first time, and it tickled a bit but didn’t hurt. I have a really small right ear canal, it was tougher for the audiologist than for me!

Doesn’t anyone use the sliding markers on the tube? The ear canal is around 28-30mm mximum from the v of the tragus gap. Set that, hold it with your thumb, check the postion with a V/O and insert without letting go of the tube.

Personally, i dont like the sound when is done in my Jabra 30’s. My audi set up 2 main programs, one per REM, the other per Jabra (Resound formula) and i much prefered the non-REM programming. So if unhappy with after REM maybe try the factory fitting formula and compare. Just fyi…

Edited

I’ve had people dance across the chair when the Microsuction probe touches a bit of wax after the second bend. It happens very rarely with the tube as I’m pretty hot on placement and I use my binocular loupes to place them and foam blocks.

Some people are just ‘jumpy’ though.

Well, It’s reassuring hearing registered providers say it’s not too big of a deal. I just wish she had more experience. I wrote to her and asked if only the experienced trainer can place it in my ear, and to not have to go through multiple placements for “practice” purposes. She still hasn’t gotten back to me. I’m a young guy, never used this word to describe myself , but a bit neurodivergent I guess. I wish I could have a relationship with an audiologist that wasn’t the typical doctor patient relationship. Wish it felt more like two equal friends exploring things over the course of three hours, not 30 minutes. I have so many questions and hate feeling rushed and need more reassurance than they give.

The audi comes across as super experienced, has over 10 years as a and says she likes programming the Jabra’s best because she is so comfortable and knowledgeable with SmartFit. But as far as , she did it twice because i wasnt happy at all when she got done with REM. That’s when said offered to install 2 main all around programs, one with REM and one with Jabra proprietary formula and the difference was night and day. I have severe/profound loss and I like a crisp bright sound for my the loss that i have. Its why i choose the Jabra’s, they sounded the most clean and bright, where the 9050 and Reach i demo’d came across as muffled and weak with really bad speech comprehension, kinda like my Jabra’s with REM. Next visit i will ask her to overlay both programs in SmartFit so i see how differently the REM programming is compared to Jabra’s.

In reply to @Um_bongo

I admit to being 100% less careful with probe tubes than I am with wax and otoblocks. Not saying I hit eardrums constantly, but it does happen. Maybe because I know it can’t cause damage. Except sometimes when you accidentally bop a squirmy baby in the eardrum the appointment is over.

@monke said:

exploring things over the course of three hours, not 30 minutes.

You probably CAN do this, but the conversation would start with “I know this is non standard but I’d like to pay you for your extra time. What’s your hourly rate.” And then don’t be shocked if you’re looking at $600 dollars for 2.5 extra hours. Consider what a one hour massage costs, or one hour with a plumber, and then add in medical equipment and schooling. Most independent clinics could probably accommodate. Costco maybe not, it’s just not in their procedures I don’t think. And I know for sure they are currently looking at ways to cut time–my colleagues are squawking.

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