Performing an RECD Measurement

Hello and welcome. This video explains the process required when fitting hearing aids on a coupler using an Affinity Compact.

RECD process

The coupler fitting process involves:

1. Selection of audiometry
2. Choosing the correct target
3. The RECD measurement or an average RECD
4. Placing the hearing aid in the test box
5. Aided measurements and your target match

Step 1: Selection of audiometry

In your patient management system, select the patient you wish to fit your hearing aids for and launch the Affinity Suite software. The software will start up in the audiometry screen.

Audiometry is your starting point to ensure the best fitting and reduce returns of your patient. You can perform the audiometry from scratch or select the audiometry session that you wish to base your fitting on.

Step 2: Choosing the correct target

On launching the REM module of your software and selecting the test protocol, you will be prompted to select the fitting prescription. There is a lot of choice surrounding fitting prescriptions but we recommend choosing NALor DSL algorithms as these are both evidence-based targets which give a good starting point to base your fitting around.

Step 3: RECD measurement

Your probe tube calibration process dictates which method of RECD you will perform. Should you wish to use the patient's ear mold, then you should select the regular probe method. Should you wish to use the SPL60 probe, then you should use the SPL method. It's important that you correctly run the tube calibration process as this prepares your system for later measurements in this process.

Run the RECD process and follow the steps on the screen. On running the RECD measurement, the software will guide you first to run the coupler measurement, and then the ear measurement.

If you're unable to measure an RECD or wish to use an average RECD value, you can right click on the RECD measurement tab and choose 'show predictive curve'. This matches the patient's criteria that you've chosen in your patient management system and provides the correct, age-related curve according to your settings.

Step 4: Placing the hearing aid in the test box

You can now attach your hearing aid to the relevant coupler adapter. Place in the center of the test box with the reference microphone close to the hearing aid microphone. This is your reference point of your test box and the content should remain in this position for the rest of your measurements.

Different styles of hearing aids can be attached to your coupler using different adapters. It's also helpful to use a putty supplied with your system to achieve a good acoustic seal. You can now close the test box lid, switch on the hearing aid, and begin your fitting.

Step 5: Aided measurements and target match

We recommend that you run three different stimuli levels: 65, 50, and 80 dB. This ensures that you're assessing the hearing aid at different levels of intensity. To ensure a good target match, you can use a Delta Values feature in your Affinity Suite to help you with it.

Once you have achieved a sufficient target match at all three levels, we recommend that you run a 90 dB tone. This helps to understand the maximum output of your device so it doesn't exceed the patient's comfortable loudness level.

After obtaining all of these measurements, you have now completed the objective aspect of the fitting. You should now place the devices on your patient to counsel them regarding the amplification they're receiving and also to include their preferences within the fitting. This may lead to further adjustments.