{"id":516,"date":"2020-11-18T09:32:32","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T00:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/all-you-need-to-know-about-hearing-aids-with-earmolds\/"},"modified":"2020-12-09T14:14:44","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T05:14:44","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-hearing-aids-with-earmolds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/all-you-need-to-know-about-hearing-aids-with-earmolds\/","title":{"rendered":"All You Need to Know About Hearing Aids With Earmolds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every individual has a different shaped ear &#8211; for that reason alone, finding the perfect fit is an important consideration when seeking to buy a new hearing aid. Luckily, molded hearing aids exist!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>These special hearing aids are custom-made devices, designed to fit snug into the ear of the wearer like a well-fitting plug. This\u00a0ability to personalize it to your specific ear is a big selling point for many people looking into their hearing aid options. Have you considered one before?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Why_Do_Earmolds_Have_Different_Shapes_and_Sizes\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> Why Do Earmolds Have Different Shapes and Sizes?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_is_an_Earmold_Made_of\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> What is an Earmold Made of?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Insert_Your_Earmold\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> How to Insert Your Earmold\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Care_for_Your_Earmolds\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> How to Care for Your Earmolds\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_Often_Do_You_Need_to_Replace_Your_Earmolds\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">5<\/span> How Often Do You Need to Replace Your Earmolds?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Why_Do_Earmolds_Have_Different_Shapes_and_Sizes\"><b>Why Do Earmolds Have Different Shapes and Sizes?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you might think that the outcome of the earmold will just depend on the anatomy of the wearer\u2019s ear canal, there\u2019s a bit more to it than this. Certainly,<\/span>\u00a0an earmold is created by taking a mold of the inside of your ear so it matches and comfortably fits into your ear canal.<\/p>\n<p>However, some other factors are taken into account by the hearing professional when making your device. They\u2019ll also be thinking of what function the earmold needs to serve and how tightly the earmold needs to seal your ear canal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The size of molded hearing aids is also usually determined by the power level of the hearing aid it is a part of. With a greater power level comes the need for a larger earmold.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_an_Earmold_Made_of\"><b>What is an Earmold Made of?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earmolds can be made of a few different materials. You can get soft types such as silicone and vinyl, and hard types like acrylic and lucite.\u00a0<\/span>Sometimes manufacturers use a mix of materials. You will also have some say in what material is used to make your earmold (ie; if you want softer or harder materials due to a previous experience). If harder materials don\u2019t bother you, they can make a durable device which is also good for those with dexterity issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might have allergies (for instance, some people are allergic to silicone) which will prevent the use of certain materials. Hypoallergenic materials are frequently used, so if you have had a bad reaction to an earmold, a replacement can be prepared which is unlikely to cause an adverse effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Insert_Your_Earmold\"><b>How to Insert Your Earmold\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inserting your earmold can be tricky and many people find this a\u00a0difficult\u00a0task when they first get their hearing aid.\u00a0It can\u00a0take a bit of practice, so keep with it and don\u2019t give up!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow these steps to insert your earmold:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hold your mold by the handle using your hearing aid side hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring your hand up to your ear and aim to align the lower part of the earmold into the ear canal, and the upper part under the flap of skin at the top. Tucking the top part under ensures that the mold is kept in place and all points are well-aligned.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take your hand slowly to your ear and against your skin without changing your hand or wrist as this will change the alignment. This is a crucial step as bad alignment can make your ears sore from poor fitting and repeated attempts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon feeling the tip of the mold in your ear canal, tilt your hand inwards slightly to assist the top piece in moving under the flap of skin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can start to guide the mold further into the ear. You\u2019ll notice that the handle piece will start to slip into the back of the ear. Move your thumb out of the way if need be.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The shape of your ear may require you to pull your ear lobe down\/back to open the bowl of the ear and allow the mold to slip over the outer ridge of your ear and into the correct position.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take your thumb out from behind the handle and use your forefinger to push the handle into the bowl securely (slightly backward and inwards). You should be able to let go of the mold. It should stay in position. Your hearing aid will hang next to your ear.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take hold of the hearing aid and lift it up and forward to put it behind your ear. It should naturally slide into the crease between your ear and head. Don\u2019t twist the hearing aid as this can mess with positioning. Your hearing aid should now feel secure!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, if you have it in your ear for two minutes without successfully inserting the mold, take it out, check your alignment, and try again. If you continue to struggle with the insertion, you might need to go back to your audiologist or hearing health professional for a demonstration.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Care_for_Your_Earmolds\"><b>How to Care for Your Earmolds\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never place your earmold on surfaces where bacteria and fungi tend to grow such as desks, counter-tops, or pockets. Only store it in a container that can be washed out with soap and water (this might come with your hearing aid) and don\u2019t let other people handle it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earmolds present a risk of infection, but this can be managed\u00a0with correct maintenance. Simply cleaning it is not enough; you should disinfect it everyday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaning your earmold involves the removal of dirt, dust, and other visible blemishes on the device\u2019s surface area, but germs are not removed during this process. Dry tissues, dry paper towels, cleaning brushes, and wire loops can all be used when you wish to just clean.\u00a0<\/span>Disinfecting your earmold involves removing all contamination and germs from the device. Moist non-alcohol based disinfectant surface wipes or spray can be used.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An earmold only needs to be sterilized when it has come into contact with contaminated bodily fluids (like blood or mucus). You will need to bring your hearing aid to your hearing health specialist who will then submerge it in a bath of a germicide solution for the appropriate period of time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_Often_Do_You_Need_to_Replace_Your_Earmolds\"><b>How Often Do You Need to Replace Your Earmolds?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your earmold becomes discolored, is ripping, isn\u2019t fitting right, or is often coming out of your ear, it is probably time to consider replacing your earmolds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If\u00a0you\u2019re getting feedback or whistling from the hearing aid then that means it is not fitting correctly anymore as this shows that sound is escaping from your ear and being picked up again by the hearing aid\u2019s microphone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The length of time that people keep their earmolds varies, as there is no definite lifespan for them. You\u2019ll need to keep an eye on your device and take note of any of these changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about custom-molded hearing aids, see our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/blogs\/the-olive-branch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">other blog articles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><b>The information in this guide has been written using the following reliable sources:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.truhearing.com\/more-resources\/understanding-earmolds-and-how-to-care-for-them\/\">https:\/\/www.truhearing.com\/more-resources\/understanding-earmolds-and-how-to-care-for-them\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcht.nhs.uk\/information-for-patients\/departmentsandservices\/audiology\/hearing-aids\/how-to-insert-the-earmould\/\">https:\/\/www.mcht.nhs.uk\/information-for-patients\/departmentsandservices\/audiology\/hearing-aids\/how-to-insert-the-earmould\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hearinghealthcenter.com\/blog\/change-domes-mold\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/hearinghealthcenter.com\/blog\/change-domes-mold\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much do you really know about molded hearing aids? This article will give you more information about them and how to care for your earmolds effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/all-you-need-to-know-about-hearing-aids-with-earmolds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"All You Need to Know About Hearing Aids With Earmolds - Olive Union\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How much do you really know about molded hearing aids? 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