NaidaUP

I had new moulds done in May and since wearing my new moulds, I've had 3 pressure sores in the same place in my right ear. My mum says it must be the mould as its in the same place.

I paid for the moulds and once again I'm going to have to leave it out for a week. Should I be able to get a new one made free of charge even tho it's been 2 months. Never had an issue with private moulds before.

Don't know if I should make an appointment or not? Don't want to make one and then be told no, bugger off or pay for new ones!

I've emailed the head office of the company (it's a huge company) to ask them but won't hear back until next week I expect.

It's the ear that I only hear speech from so not a happy bunny.

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Anij

Your Audie should be able to adjust the mould so it's not causing pressure sores. I've had this happen and they mark the spots and file them down a very little at a time until they aren't rubbing.

Absolutely call/email the audie right away, it's their job to make sure the moulds fit right, and if they aren't to correct them, or reorder them (for free).

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Hoh/Deaf ~ +120db deaf right , mild/mod flux left & APD
English & ASL ...PAH!!


Ignorance is NOT Bliss

Ausrider

Jusat ask your audi to shave the mould back where is sore, iv never had a mould that didnt need modifying

green427

After many years of dealing with moulds and ear infections, every single new mould gave me sores, especially the ear tunnel part. The only thing that works is to coat the mould with Neosporin for one week, and after your ear gets used to the new mould, the sore spots go away. The mould company is not responsible for your issues, as all they do is make it from the impression that your audi made.

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Warning: Anything I post may not make any sense. All advice is for entertainment value only. Sarcasm might be present. Interpret at your own risk.

Sarfarigirl2011

since I have an earmold allergy, I wear some hypnoallergenic ones.

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18 yr old girl with a moderate/severe in the right and severe on the left.
currently wearing purple Oticon Safari P 600s

GrayEagle

My audiologist always fine tunes the fit of the molds. She shaves a little at a time as I describe where the sore spots are. Then I get comfortable wear all day long, day after day. But she can't do the fine fitting unless I tell her where it hurts, etc. It's her job to make them fit right, part of the cost. It's not my responsibility to have to live with bleeding/sore ears...

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"We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them."
~~Carl Jung

cdmeggers

This is why I only do half shell for my earmolds, if I did full shell, the top part would always make sores in my ear in the exact same spot. The last time I had a full shell mold, I took a Dremel tool to it and filed it down a bit so it didn't put so much pressure on my ear anymore. You can either have your audie file the bothersome part down a bit, or you could try it yourself with a nail file, just file off a little bit at a time until it's comfortable to wear (but if you do it yourself, it could void the warranty I think).

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LoveBlue

I've had to have moulds remade (for free).
Am
Another possible cause could be that the tubing is ever so slightly too short and is pulling on the mould. I think I've had this problem in the past which caused discomfort where the top of the mould touches the ear.

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Severe-to-profound hearing loss in both ears.
SD @ 100db L-88% / R-96% - unaided
Phonak Naida IX UPs

Frisky Feline

Can you replace the mold for free?

LoveBlue

Within a certain time frame. 2 months may be past that time frame, but it's certainly worth asking about.

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Severe-to-profound hearing loss in both ears.
SD @ 100db L-88% / R-96% - unaided
Phonak Naida IX UPs

AMazieLN

My Audi told me when she gave me my new mold, to let her know if it causes soreness so she can adjust it. So yes, I would expect an Audi to do that. I also agree with the PP who said the tube might be too short, therefore pulling the mold up into the ear cartilage.

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Mazie, 24yrs
Phonak Naida S V UP with full shell mold
Learning ASL and how to live Deaf with a capital D.

NaidaUP

Do you have a profound loss? It's the top part that is causing me the sore. I would love to get half moulds if I don't get any feedback.

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NaidaUP

But the Audi is responsible!

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AMazieLN

Keep the full mold, you'll just get feedback with a half-shell because of your loss! The half-shells don't stay sealed enough for our losses. See Audi about fixing the problem, whether that's shaving, longer tube, or new molds all-together. Most any Audi would do it for you as to not lose a customer.

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Mazie, 24yrs
Phonak Naida S V UP with full shell mold
Learning ASL and how to live Deaf with a capital D.

NaidaUP

They rang my mum, got an appointment and he will remake for free. Still slightly worried he is going to look annoyed tho as I email the head office asking what are my rights and then they phoned my Audi. He maybe slighly annoyed that I didn't ask him but then I can't ring him.

Don't think it the tubing as I've had the keep it longer then my otherside anyway otherwise I can't even wear my mould.

I just think the top (not the sticky out bit) that is a little too fat and it's pushing wear there is hard cartilage.

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NaidaUP

This is where it is hurting and I have a sore and is bleeding.

I really can't work out why it is so sore as its a flat surface. Im thinking it is maybe too high or too fat.

Im totally worried that he won't be able to make it work for me, even the new one.

Attached Images

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GrayEagle

Glad you are getting an appt. and a remake on the molds. It is the audiologist's responsibility.

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"We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them."
~~Carl Jung

NaidaUP

Since writing on this forum, I have been told that where it is hurting is the most problematic area for causing pain which I did not know! Was told my an audiologist on another forum.

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NaidaUP

And even worse now, taken my left aid out and I've got the start of a pressure sore on my left side in the same place as my right.

I only emailed head office about my right. GRR.

Both sides are sore when I put in and take out aids, but left was was ok once it was in. I'm not winning.

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NaidaUP

# 10 POWER MOLD
Some feedback problems have as their origin the movement of the jaw as it affects the ear canal. This movement causes the seal created by the earmold to break and feedback occurs. The movement in the ear canal can be by-passed by this physical design. The canal portion of a shell mold is reduced to a tubing size for part of the canal length.

# 30 J
A deep fitting “hollow” canal style earmold tapered for profound hearing losses in patient’s with excessive jaw movement


Ear Molds

Found this tho. Have to look on link for picture. It says it works for profound losses.

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GrayEagle

I hope your appt. is very soon, then! And it's entirely possible the audiologist can shave very sparingly the molds so they fit better as well. That's what mine has done in the past to remove sore spots. If that doesn't work, then absolutely, new molds are made. Good luck! You should always speak up and not feel bad about it. Hearing aids and molds are useless if they don't fit us. It's up to you to give your audiologist the feedback necessary for he/she to do their job for you. They can't do it unless they know, right? So it's good that you emailed and it's good you have the appt.

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"We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them."
~~Carl Jung

cdmeggers

I have severe-profound in the right ear. Sometimes the half shell does cause some feedback, but only because it's not in the ear just right so I have to adjust it until it quits feedbacking. I have that same issue with full shells too.

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NaidaUP

I'm going to try and get a Skelton mould done for my right.

Cut up my old moulds last night to just the canal bit and my left is feed backing but my right isn't which makes me think I can get away with Skelton for my right side. Very nice having air to my ears tho.

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AMazieLN

Don't get your hopes up regarding the skeleton molds. Those are the kind I had first (see in my siggy), and I have permanent scars in my ear from them. They caused a sore spot in the same spot on each ear, and having no option, I just dealt with it. My skin finally gave up on healing and calloused over, lol. The sore spot is the same as you're having now. I think that's a universal issue for most BTE wearers that requires tweaking.

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Mazie, 24yrs
Phonak Naida S V UP with full shell mold
Learning ASL and how to live Deaf with a capital D.

NaidaUP

Oh ok. AMazieLM- When you did have a Skelton mould tho, was the top more squashy (if that makes sense) as there is a gap in the middle? I've never had Skelton moulds before in all my life of wearing aids (25 years).

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AMazieLN

Skeleton molds are hard plastic, not soft silicone. Hence the sores.

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Mazie, 24yrs
Phonak Naida S V UP with full shell mold
Learning ASL and how to live Deaf with a capital D.

NaidaUP

I understand you now, thank you

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cdmeggers

I've had soft skeleton molds in the past. Yeah, had the sores in that little groove/gap at the top of the ear, but that's always been my sensitive spot. Once audie filed down the bothersome spot on the earmold, then it was fine. Not once ever have I had hard plastic molds, they all were the soft silicone every time, no matter what style (full, half, skeleton).

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Anij

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )

I actually found the skelton moulds more prone to making sores - because there is less contact with the mould and ear (which means more movement).

It's fairly typical to need minor adjustments to a new mould - my Audie says well over 50% of people need at least a minor adjustment done once or twice to get a comfortable "sore free" fit.

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Hoh/Deaf ~ +120db deaf right , mild/mod flux left & APD
English & ASL ...PAH!!


Ignorance is NOT Bliss

NaidaUP

In my whole life 25 years of wearing aids, I've never had to have a mould adjusted due to it being sore, that is until this set.

There's been a few people (friends also) that say Skelton moulds are more prone to hurting.

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