Why are probe microphone measurements important?

My friend mentioned seeing a video on the Internet about probe microphone measurements in hearing aid fittings.

It has been said that a hearing aid is only as good as how it is programmed. With today’s digital hearing aids, the hearing aid manufacturer develops a formula for appropriate settings in the instruments based on various degrees of hearing loss. However, since every ear canal has a unique shape, size and angle, the best way to optimize the settings for an individual is to physically measure the sound in the ear canal.

This objective measurement, known as real ear measures, speech mapping or probe microphone measurement, helps the audiologist verify that individualized targets are being met for soft, average and loud sounds. This ensures that you will receive the best benefit from the hearing aids in every listening situation. We value this information so much that our audiologists complete probe microphone measurements on all hearing aid fittings.