Earmolds for hearing aids

What are hearing aid earmolds?

What exactly are earmolds for hearing aids? A hearing aid earmold is the part of the device that sits in the bowl (or “concha”) of your ear or in the ear canal. They are custom molded to fit your specific ear shape. Let’s take a look at some more specifics about earmolds.

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What are hearing aid earmolds made of?

Most earmolds are made out of acrylic or silicone. Earmolds for hearing aids can also be made out of vinyl or plastic. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. Materials like silicone and vinyl are durable but more expensive. Foam is comfortable and easy to keep clean, but it may be more prone to damage. Foam can be used for an emergency like when a patient loses an earmold. Foam is not used in a standard fitting.

What are the types of hearing aid earmolds?

There are several hearing aid earmold types. The most common hearing aid earmold styles are full shell, skeleton and canal.

A full shell earmold covers the entire concha (the bowl-shaped part) of your ear, similar to the in-ear monitors that musicians use. These are made by taking a mold of your concha so they are customized to your ear shape. Usually this type of earmold is made of hard plastic or acrylic. One advantage of full shell earmolds is that they stay securely in place and don’t fall out easily. They are recommended for people with mild-to-severe hearing loss.

Another type is a skeleton earmold. Hearing aids with skeleton earmolds are also designed to fit your specific concha, but these are not filled in (hence the name “skeleton”). These earmolds are typically made of acrylic or PVC and are less visible than full shell earmolds, making them a popular option.

A canal lock earmold is made using a mold of your ear canal. This style doesn’t work well for everyone since you need a specific ear canal shape in order for it to stay in place. However, because it sits further in your ear, it is easy to hide and the most discreet option. This style is best for those with moderate-to-severe hearing loss and can be made from a variety of materials.

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Which hearing aids use earmolds?

Not every type of hearing aid uses earmolds. However, earmolds for hearing aids can make the device fit more snugly and comfortably. These are the two types of hearing aids that use or are compatible with earmolds:

A receiver-in-the-canal, or RIC, earmold is a hearing aid that has a speaker, or receiver, in the ear canal with the rest of the hearing aid hardware sitting behind your ear.

A behind-the-ear, or BTE, hearing aid with an earmold is very powerful, offering more amplification than any other hearing aid style. A behind-the-ear hearing aid with an earmold features a case that houses the receiver, microphone and amplifier behind your ear, while the earmold sits in your ear. BTE hearing aids have a larger tube that connects these pieces, so it is not as discreet as a RIC style. These hearing aids are recommended for people who have more severe hearing loss.

What are the benefits of hearing aid earmolds?

When it comes to custom earmolds, there are many benefits. Custom earmolds for hearing aids can provide:

Better sound quality
Greater sound amplification
A more comfortable fit

Earmolds versus domes

One common feature that people consider with hearing aids are earmolds vs. domes. While earmolds are molded to the shape of your ear, domes are small silicone pieces that flex to fit different ear sizes and shapes but are not customized to your ears. Domes are often vented, which allows more ambient sound to enter your ears, helping provide a more natural listening experience.

However, the more severe your hearing loss, the more you need the ear canal tightly sealed for effective amplification. Because of this, domes are generally more beneficial for milder forms of hearing loss, such as high-frequency hearing loss, while earmolds can be effective for a wider range of hearing problems.

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Tips for choosing the right hearing aid earmolds

When choosing earmolds for hearing aids, there are many factors to consider. Here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:

What style will be compatible with your hearing needs?
How does the hearing aid earmold feel in your ear?
What kind of material do you want?

Consider what feels best and what will hold up to your lifestyle. Your hearing care professional may also have some recommendations for your specific hearing needs, but ultimately, the choice is up to you and what feels best in your ears.

Troubleshooting common earmold problems

On occasion, you may have to do some earmold troubleshooting. Here are a few common issues you could experience:

Your hearing aids aren’t producing any sound. If this is happening, make sure your hearing aids are turned on and have working or charged batteries. Check to be sure that there isn’t any debris in the device. Try adjusting the volume and settings. If this doesn’t help, you may need to inspect your hearing aids to see if they are broken or damaged.
Your own voice sounds too quiet or too loud. If your voice sounds muffled, this may need to be fixed with earmold modifications or circuit changes in your hearing aid. If your voice is too loud, your earmolds may need a larger vent.
You’re experiencing feedback or whistling sounds. This may be the result of your hearing aids not sitting properly in your ears. First try removing them and re-inserting them. If you have a BTE hearing aid, check the tubing to be sure it’s still intact and doesn’t have any cracks. You may also want to try turning the volume down to see if this helps.

If you’re unable to fix the problem yourself, make an appointment with your hearing specialist and have them help you.

How to take care of your hearing aid earmolds

Cleaning hearing aid earmolds is an important part of maintaining them. Each night before bed, take out your hearing aids and check the earmolds for earwax or debris. Be sure to clean them regularly and according to the instructions given by your hearing specialist. Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures and keep them in a dry spot when you’re not wearing them.

Hearing aid earmold lubricant can also be used to help your earmolds fit into your ears more comfortably. Be sure to talk with your hearing specialist about what products will work best with your earmolds.