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

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In reply to @gorgeguy

Thank you for your comment. Are you suggesting that “thumping” means repeatedly contacting the eardrum? And, if so, isn’t this uncomfortable for the patient?
I have now had 3 ’s done, times two ears, equals 6 ear canal deep penetrations. Only one of those probing was uncomfortable. My understanding is that the end of the REM tube should be about 2 to 3 mm from the eardrums for this test. Do you have a different specification?
Thanks again.
Best, Bob.

In reply to @rrhale1957

4-6mm is usually plenty close enough tbh and the actual intensity doesn’t alter that much in occluded fittings, vented fittings are a different kettle of fish though.

When one uses the “thump”, once is sufficient. As Um_bongo mentioned, there are other ways to judge the probe tube placement. When I was training professionals to fit the Lyric, the thump was actually encouraged to find out exactly how long the ear canal was to see if the Lyric was a possibility.

The lyric canal measurement tool thumps by design, but it’s a thinner, softer probe. I have never had a patient be uncomfortable with that one.

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