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Custom Ear Molds

Union Hearing Aid Centre Ltd. provides a complete line of custom ear pieces such as:

• Custom ear pieces for hearing aids
• Custom swim plugs (floatable or non-floatable) in all colours or combination of colours
• Any ear piece related to any field
• Special high fidelity noise attenuators

Precaution should be taken to protect one's hearing from long term exposure to extreme sound levels. Noise attenuators are essential to hear accurately in loud environments while protecting your hearing. They are primarily used by Musicians, Dentists, Traders, Pilots, Industrial workers, restaurant and dance club employees and Machinists.

Virtually all commercially available earplugs cut out more high frequency than low frequency. The reason for the success of these ear protectors is based on the fact that the earplug attenuates a uniform 9db, 15dB, or 25dB.

Insertion of the ear mold

The most difficult part of the hearing aid fitting is the insertion of the ear molds.

Infant and children’s ear molds are usually made of soft material that is difficult to insert. The canal portion of the mold must be inserted into the ear first with the concha part of the mold in a semi-clockwise position. Pressure is applied towards the head and the concha part of the mold is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until the concha part of the mold slips into place. It is absolutely imperative to make sure the sub-helix is tucked into position properly to avoid any pressure soars in this area.

It is best to use a lubricant to insert the ear mold and overcome the friction associated with silicone or PVC. Vaseline, light mineral oil, and otoease are all acceptable lubricants for use. Lubricant is applied to the canal part of the mold making sure not to get any into the bore at the end of the mold. Discontinue the use of any lubricant if irritation develops in the ear canal or concha bowl.

Some ear mold materials may cause irritation of the ear canal and concha bowl if the child is allergic to latex, vinyl, etc. If irritation develops, please contact your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser immediately.

Dealing with acoustic feedback (whistling noise)

One of the biggest concerns when fitting ear molds especially to infants and small children is acoustical feedback.

Acoustical feedback is caused by a “break in the seal”. Sound leaks out of the ear and travels back into the hearing aid microphone which causes the whistling sound we hear. With very small infants and young children occasional whistling is normal — constant whistling is not.

There are many ways to combat feedback but a good fitting ear mold is the best avenue. The audiologist or dispenser must have good experience fitting ear molds to infants and children. Some centers in Ontario specialize in pediatrics so it is probably a good idea to research the center previous to making your appointment.

Quite frequently ear molds are not inserted correctly and therefore “whistle”. The use of otoease usually makes insertion of ear molds correctly more probable. Sometimes the infant will outgrow the molds within a week or two weeks. Otoferm (a special type of silicone based sealer) can be used temporarily to provide a little more seal until the molds can be remade or built up.

Parents may unfortunately have to make several trips to the center at the beginning for the build up or remake of the mold. In extreme cases an ear mold may not even be physically possible to make due to ear canal size restrictions. These cases are rare but extremely difficult to fit. Talk to your audiologist or dispenser for options. No case is unsolvable!

Ear mold maintenance

Ear molds must be kept clean for obvious reasons of bacterial infestation and transmission.

One of the most economical ways of cleaning ear molds is using mild hand soap and lukewarm water. A gentle brush may be used on the mold to remove any hard wax and debris. An air-blower is used to remove all water from the tubing of the mold post wash.

There are special ear mold cleaning kits that may be purchased that contain fizzing tablets that essentially fizz away wax and debris. Alcohol should not be used on molds as it shrinks soft PVC molds and cracks the hard lucite molds.

The tubing on molds must be inspected regularly to ensure there are no cracks and breaks. If there is a burst of feedback all of a sudden it is usually due to a crack in the ear mold tubing especially where the tube joins the mold. In an emergency the crack can be temporarily sealed with RTF silicone or scotch tape. In some cases people have used crazy glue which may solve the problem temporarily but may actually ruin the mold all together.

When ear mold tubing stiffens up where it can not be bent then it must be replaced. This may occur several times before actually having to replace the mold.

Drastic temperature change also will have an ill effect on soft molds. Unfortunately, for Canadians, we are all too familiar with this phenomenon — warm and mild one day, freezing cold the next. Do not be surprised if the mold shrinks and stiffens up after 2 or 3 months because of this. A light application of mineral oil on the mold from time to time has been known to combat this.

If a child has had an ear infection it is recommended to make new ear molds after the end of medicinal treatment or medical clearance to prevent transmission of infections organisms that may cause another ear infection. Soft molds are porous and hard molds have tiny nooks and spaces which may harbor micro organisms that can not be destroyed by conventional ways of cleaning. Eardrops may also significantly shrink and stiffen the molds and tubing and cause discoloration.

Some parents have also opted to trim the length of the ear mold tubing. Please note that short tubing may cause pressure soars at the top of the ear and tubing that is too long will risk feedback as well as the aid may completely fall out of the ear. Ask your hearing professional to show you exactly how the tubing must be cut.