Custom Ear Molds

At Hearing Wellness Solutions, we make custom earmolds in all shapes and sizes, and for a variety of uses. Custom earmolds need to be created for many types of hearing aids, for custom hearing protection, swimmers’ earplugs, and can even be made for earbuds.

We recommend custom ear protection for hunters and other gun enthusiasts; loud employment situations; musicians and live music enthusiasts; and noisy household chores.

Earmolds are usually made of plastic, acrylic, or silicone. They are molded to the exact shape of a patient’s outer ear structure.

Custom earmolds are created by taking an impression of your ear canal and outer ear. We gently squeeze a foamy substance—somewhat resembling caulk—into your ear. You’ll be asked to open and close your mouth to make your ear canal’s shape move in the ways it normally does while the quick-setting substance dries out enough to hold its shape. It only takes about five minutes and is completely painless.

This impression is then sent off to a lab where they create a replica of your outer ear structure. The replica is then used to create the custom earmold for your specific use.

Process Of Making Earplugs From An Impression Of An Individual Child Ear

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Custom Earmolds for Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids often utilize soft silicone dome earmolds. These are not customized, but are offered in a few different sizes. Some are solid, while others have large holes to allow sound to pass freely through the earmold. Especially for mild hearing loss where low-frequency hearing is normal, these domes allow for a more natural sound than fully occluded earmolds.

Customized earmolds, however, can be made in more than ten different styles. Which type you get may have more to do with the type of hearing aid you choose than with your preference for any specific style of earmold. There are a few common types that are frequently used with a variety of hearing aids.

Canal

Canal earmolds are used with In-the-Canal (ITC) hearing aids. They require the wearer to have a relatively long ear canal to fit well. They are designed to be inconspicuous, comfortable, and to stay put in the ear canal.

Full-Shell

Full-Shell earmolds provide the most stability in the ear and are unlikely to fall out. Because they provide full occlusion, they help prevent feedback and are appropriate for moderate to severe hearing loss.

Half-Shell

Half-Shell earmolds are similar to full-shell, but they cover only the bottom portion of the concha bowl at the outside of the ear canal. They are recommended for mild hearing loss, and may have more of a tendency to fall out depending on a person’s ear canal shape.

Skeleton

Skeleton earmolds have the material scooped out from the center. This makes them look more natural in the ear while still providing a good amount of surface area to keep them from falling out.

Semi-skeleton

Semi-skeleton earmolds do away with the back ring that you find on skeleton-style molds. Both types are suitable for mild to severe hearing loss, but semi-skeleton molds are more often recommended for those with limited dexterity.

You and your hearing care professional will work together to determine which types of hearing aids and earmolds will be most appropriate for you and your specific hearing loss. With the personal attention you’ll receive at Hearing Wellness Solutions, you can be sure you’ll find the right fit for you.

Custom Earmolds for Ear Protection

Aside from their importance with hearing aids, custom earmolds are useful for other purposes.

Construction Engineer On A Walkie-Talkie

Earplugs for Noise

A full-shell earmold can be fitted with an attenuator to reduce the amount of sound that is allowed into your ear canal. The attenuators range in how much sound they block. For classical musicians, a slight amount of attenuation might be best. For other musicians and regular concertgoers, a medium amount of attenuation will be most appropriate. For hunters, gun enthusiasts, motorcyclists, and others encountering loud sounds, the maximum amount of attenuation may be required. We will work with you to determine the amount of protection you’ll need for the activities you enjoy.

Senior Man in an Indoor Swimming Pool Being Active

Earplugs for Swimmers

Made of a lighter, floatable material, these block water from entering the ear canal where it can cause swimmer’s ear.

Ear Pieces

Ear pieces are a combination of an earplug and an earbud. They block loud sound from coming in, but also have a speaker that allows sound to enter. They can be useful for safely listening to music or other entertainment in louder environments, or for musicians to use as in-ear monitors.

Whatever the reason you need custom earmolds, Hearing Wellness Solutions is happy to help. We can create earmolds not only for new hearing aids, but for hearing aids you purchased elsewhere or acquired by other means (as long as they meet the requirements of your hearing loss). We are here to understand your needs and make sure you get the right amplification or protection for your situation.

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Could you benefit from seeing a hearing professional?

We invite you to schedule a consultation with our Hearing Instrument Specialist, Candace Wawra.

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