Focus 33 Integrating RECD fitting process

sound pressure level (SPL) directly; however, in certain populations (such as infants and children) the probe tube may not be tolerated for extended periods of time. An alternative is to derive (sometimes called “predict”) the real-ear SPL by adding an individually measured acoustic transfer function to both, the audiometric and electroacoustic data. The acoustic transfer function in question is known as the “real-ear-to-coupler difference” (RECD). The purpose of this article is to encourage clinicians to measure the RECD. The article explains how the individually-measured RECD can be integrated into the hearing instrument fitting process. Phonak has developed a fitting tool known as RECDdirect which is a one-step process that minimizes RECD measurement time and removes the need for a separate probe-tube microphone system. It utilizes the fitting software and Supero hearing instrument in the RECD measurement process. The findings from a study using RECDdirect are presented in this article. Kevin Munro