Earmolds

Properly Fitting Hearing Aids

A properly fitting earmold is an important factor in the success of wearing hearing aids. Poorly fitting aids can result in audible feedback and physical discomfort to the point where you may choose not to wear them.

Earmolds are made from many materials including hard acrylic (Lucite), to softer materials that incorporate products like silicon and polyethylene. All hard-body earmolds are sanded and polished for easy insertion. Efforts have been made to make earmolds with a thermoplastic material that expands slightly with body temperature however, most people found the pressure from the expansion uncomfortable.

Many people today are allergic to a wide range of compounds and those used in earmolds is no exception. Although most of the products used today are bio-compatible some people have shown higher sensitivity to the chemicals found in earmolds requiring them to be made from a hypoallergenic material.

How far have we come with earmolds? In the past, an earmold was made by placing a cotton ball in the ear canal, coating the inside of the ear with oil and inserting a mixture of plaster of paris. It was set when it got uncomfortably hot. In the near future we're likely to see a hand held laser probe gently inserted into the ear without physically touching it. Three dimensional cavity contours would be scanned and the dimensions directly fed into a computer to be sent to the manufacturer.

Cleaning TIPS

• Keep earmolds clean.
• If the sound bore seems clogged, clean gently with a pin or toothpick.
• Regularly remove the earmolds from the aid and wash it with mild soap and water. Ensure the earmold is dry when reconnecting.
• Consider a forced-air cleaner for earmolds and tubing.
• Try non-alcoholic 'audio-wips' to clean the surface of your earmolds.