Sound‐pressure recordings made in real‐ear simulators are more realistic than those made in 2‐cc couplers. Unfortunately, most real‐ear simulators (1) require factory calibration and (2) were designed to simulate only the mean acoustic impedance of normal adult ears. Due to variability of ear‐canal geometry and eardrum impedance among subjects, the statistical possibility of any one subject exhibiting such “mean” characteristics—especially if that subject has a conductive pathology—is very remote. Reported herein is the development of a programmable artificial ear (PAE) which (1) requires no factory calibration and (2) can be programmed to account for individual variations in source impedance, ear‐canal geometry, and eardrum impedance. The PAE consists of a 2‐cc coupler, microphone, amplifier, and desk‐top scientific computer, equipment which is included in most laboratory/clinic inventories. Sound pressures recorded in the 2‐cc coupler are adjusted via the computer to what they would have been had the recordings been made in a particular subject's ear. Good agreement has been obtained between PAE data and real‐ear simulator measurements.