I'll be fitted with a second hearing aid next month, and will be ordering new ear molds. When I got my first aid last year, I initially used an open fit dome and found it horribly uncomfortable. I'd have to push it far into my ear or it would pop out throughout the day, and the edge of the dome always felt as though it were cutting into my flesh. It also produced feedback on at least one of my programs. I got a silicone skeleton mold after that, and a standard sized tube instead of a thin one which improved the sound quality immensely. The mold feels alright for the most part, but causes a little soreness in the upper part of my outer ear, or the concha. I like the skeleton shape because it stays put, but I could do without that minor annoyance. Is there another shape of custom mold you guys find more comfortable? My loss is mild-moderate so I don't necessarily need a full shell mold.
ear mold shapes
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plasticdinosaur
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They have custom molds that just go into the the canal, and ones that have a little onto the bottom for retention. Earpiece Guide | Westone <---- This site lists all the different kinds pretty well I think.
Now I have a question for you. Lol. Do you think the sound quality improved from the switch from a dome to a mold, or from the switch from thin tubes to normal size ones. I have thin tubes on standard molds myself, and thethin tubes have started to drive me nuts. They dig into my ears, bend, and change colors, and are just all around annoying. I didn't want to hock out money for new ear molds for just annoyance, but if that might improve the sound quality too...
Now I have a question for you. Lol. Do you think the sound quality improved from the switch from a dome to a mold, or from the switch from thin tubes to normal size ones. I have thin tubes on standard molds myself, and thethin tubes have started to drive me nuts. They dig into my ears, bend, and change colors, and are just all around annoying. I didn't want to hock out money for new ear molds for just annoyance, but if that might improve the sound quality too...
ladysolitary85
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As a child I always had the skeleton mold and I hated it. Then I had the soft tiny squishy round mold for all ear types in my ear and I loved it because it didn't hurt and it wasn't hogging up my ear canal, but my hearing dropped and I had to go with a custom in the canal hard plastic ear mold. My first day with it and I don't like it only because my ear feels sore, have to tough it out for the weekend to have the audiologist sand it down for me and hope it doesn't hurt.
I'm pretty confident the change in sound quality can be attributed to the wider tube size. I got my hearing aid while I was in the process of moving, and was only able to have it adjusted once before leaving town. I always felt I wasn't getting enough amplification. I was set to have an adjustment the day I picked up my mold, but after putting it in I found I didn't need it. It gave me the perfect boost in sound.
Are you able to get a soft mold? I was given the option when my impression was taken, and the hard mold just seemed like it'd be really uncomfortable so I went for silicone.
ladysolitary85
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unfortunately no, not with the added power to it.
Soft moulds can be used for any type of hearing loss including profound. I have full shell soft moulds for my super power HAs. I haven't used hard moulds since childhood. I've never had any problems with soreness etc. with soft ear moulds.
Sarfarigirl2011
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well guess what? I had worn full shell earmolds all my life.
ladysolitary85
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I have the style 5 from westone (Originally had style 4, but it kept "walking out of my ear" the canal lock on the 5's help it stay put even when I'm exercising), and i have severe loss, with a soft silicone, and UP (ultra power, thick tubes) hearing aids...
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Mine most resemble #5, also. I have had them for two years. Question: The clear plastic has changed color to cloudy white-- sort of looks like a flow of pus. I there any way I can change this? I have even thought of painting them flesh-color.
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how often do you clean them? it is something that happens, the discoloration. but if you clean them thoroughly and regularly they should stay clear longer. please don't paint them, they are not designed to be painted... there are problems that can come with that... and the #5's aren't really seen much...
Beach girl
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After two years you probably need new ones anyway. I thought the general recommendation was to get new molds about every 18 months or so? I usuall get new ones about once a year, I think. Sometimes go longer than that - my current ones are due to be replaced, as it's been a while.
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my audi told me it depends on the mold. the soft silicone ones don't shrink... so when they start causing issues, such as feedback, loss of sound quality, or pain... that is when they need to be replaced. It also depends on how quickly your ear canal changes... some peoples change shape faster than others... I was told these could last me anywhere from 6 months to 4 years... with proper cleaning and disinfectant. He told me that the colored ones need replaced more often... which is the only reason I didn't get the colored... but if these only last me about 18 months... I am getting color next time!
whatdidyousay!
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I do not like the dome shapes ear molds . When I got my new purple ear molds it took my ear awhile to get use to the new mold. I can't wear a regular ear mold in my right ear , I have to wear a small form tube that I have to squeeze
to fix into my ear.
to fix into my ear.
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I clean mine on a regular basis (3x a week) and my last clear molds after 2 years had just started to discolor (didn't look like puss, just started to turn a dirty brown color)... but... they were also starting to hurt my ears. so i stopped wearing my HA's... then while moving... they got lost...
they didn't look as bad as this...
but they weren't pretty.
Clean them? What is that?
All I do is use a pipe-cleaner to clean out the holes. Just like nobody told me much about t-coil, nobody told me about cleaning them. VR won't do anything with them, I have to wait until I get a job, which I am aggressively pursuing. Then I can get new ones. Yes, I note that I have to push them in deeper on occasion.
It may be the salt from sweat that turnes them white. The brown/yellow from earwax is just on the surface, and can easily be rubbed off.
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Clean them? What is that?
VR won't do anything with them, I have to wait until I get a job, which I am aggressively pursuing. Then I can get new ones. Yes, I note that I have to push them in deeper on occasion.
It may be the salt from sweat that turnes them white. The brown/yellow from earwax is just on the surface, and can easily be rubbed off.
my audi told me to clean them (just the earmolds and tubes) with hot soapy water a couple times a week, then use my blower to blow them out and let them dry over night... he said that will keep the discoloration away more... (white or yellow)