Real Ear Measurement
Verifying Every Hearing Aid in Your Ear
Roughly two-thirds of hearing aids fitted in the United States never see a verification step — they're left on the manufacturer's first-fit estimate. Real ear measurement in Burbank, CA at Sound Advice is the opposite of that: a thin probe microphone is placed alongside your hearing aid in the ear canal, the device plays speech-shaped signals, and the actual sound reaching your eardrum is compared against your prescription targets in real time.
Live Speech Mapping for Real-World Listening
Live speech mapping takes REM hearing aid verification a step further by running a real voice — often a family member's — through the same probe-microphone setup, so you and Dr. Lew can see how your aids handle the people you actually want to hear. The screen plots speech bands against your hearing thresholds, which is where most patients finally understand why a verified hearing aid fitting in Burbank outperforms a quick template fit. Adjustments happen on the spot until the targets align.
60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee on Every Pair
Every prescription hearing aid fitted at Sound Advice is backed by a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Wear them at work, at restaurants, in the studio, and at home — if they aren't the right fit after 60 days, bring them back and we'll exchange them for a different model. Real life is the only test that counts.
Hear From Our Patients
What real Burbank patients — musicians, parents, seniors, and Veterans — say about hearing better with Sound Advice.
Find Out What You've Been Missing — Book a Visit.
35 years of honest answers, Dr. Beverly Lew at every visit, and no pressure to buy — just clearer hearing.
Serving Los Angeles, North Hollywood & Burbank
Visit Us in Burbank
Sound Advice is on the first floor of the University of La Verne building in the Burbank media district — wheelchair accessible. Call or request an appointment online.
- Rated 4.9/5 from 158+ Google reviews
- Women-owned practice, est. 1991
- Doctor of Audiology — 30+ years exp
- 60-day satisfaction guarantee
- Wheelchair accessible, on-site parking
“Dr. Lew and her team are exceptional. From the front desk to the testing booth, everyone takes the time to explain what's happening and answer every question. My hearing aids were fitted carefully, and the follow-up visits made all the difference. Honest, thorough, and genuinely caring care.”— Sound Advice patient
Sound Advice
Burbank4001 W Alameda Ave #101, Burbank, CA 91505
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Real Ear Measurement FAQs
Common questions about real ear measurement in Burbank, CA — what REM measures, why so few clinics do it, how it differs from a hearing test, and whether it adds time or cost.
Real ear measurement uses a slim silicone probe placed about a quarter-inch from the eardrum, alongside the hearing aid. As the device delivers a calibrated speech-shaped signal, the probe captures the actual sound pressure inside your ear canal. That live probe microphone measurement is plotted against your prescription targets — soft speech, average speech, and loud speech — and Dr. Lew adjusts the hearing aid until the curves match. Without REM, the only data you and the audiologist have is the manufacturer's first-fit estimate, which assumes an average ear canal. Yours isn't average — every canal is shaped differently, and that geometry can change device output by a surprising amount.
Honestly, it's a combination of equipment cost, training time, and chair-time pressure. A clinical-grade probe-microphone system represents a real capital investment, and a complete verified hearing aid fitting adds 10 to 15 minutes per visit. Big-box and warehouse-style retailers often skip it for those reasons.
Best-practice hearing aid fitting guidelines from the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology recommend REM on every adult fitting and refit. Sound Advice has run REM on every adult fitting and refit for decades — it's the difference between guessing the device fits your hearing and proving it does.
Yes — they answer two different questions. A hearing test (audiogram) measures what you can hear unaided: how soft a tone you detect at each pitch and how clearly you understand speech. A real ear hearing test, on the other hand, measures what your hearing aids actually deliver to your ear canal once they're programmed.
The audiogram tells Dr. Lew where you start; REM verifies that the prescription gets you to the target. Both are essential — the audiogram alone tells us the goal, and REM alone tells us nothing about your unaided hearing. Together they make a complete hearing aid validation.
No. Real ear measurement is included in every adult hearing-aid fitting at Sound Advice and at the two-week follow-up — it's not a paid add-on or a separate visit. The procedure itself adds about 10 to 15 minutes to a fitting appointment and is painless: you'll feel a soft probe tube along the side of the canal, then listen quietly while Dr. Lew runs the verification signals. To schedule a fitting that includes full REM verification — or to ask about REM on aids you already own — call 818-841-0066 or request an appointment online.