Earmolds and earmolds in modern hearing aids
In today's world, a modern hearing aid is not only very light and small, but it also provides immense power. Modern technologies make it possible to optimize your hearing with the help of the hearing aid. The more you exploit the possibilities of the new technologies, the better your hearing impression will ultimately be. Of course, the decisive factor is the severity of your hearing loss on the one hand, and the hearing aid model on the other. In the case of BTE hearing aids, earmolds are used.
What is an earmold?
Otoplastics are nothing more than the direct connection between your ear and the hearing aid. These earmolds are either directly connected to the sound tube or firmly connected to the housing.
The earmolds provide the maximum secure fit for your hearing aid inside the pinna. In the event that you have a profound hearing loss, this will greatly benefit the amplification effect.
We have compiled this guide for you, in which you will find all the information you need on the subject of earmolds. Our experts for hearing aids will be happy to help you on the phone without obligation and free of charge. With us, you will receive recommendations as well as individual advice for your perfect hearing aid. This will enable you to master all hearing situations perfectly in the future. If you wish, you can make an appointment with our hearing care professionals directly on the phone.
Your individual ear impression
Your hearing loss is individual and your inner ear with its auditory canal is as distinctive as your fingerprint. This means that your situation is unique and must be examined and evaluated accordingly. Did you know that your inner ear or auditory canal is so unique? Therefore, it is necessary to first make an accurate impression of your ear canals so that the earmold can find the optimal fit in your ears.
In order to be able to make the earmold for your future hearing aid individually, the acoustician takes an impression of your ear, a so-called impression. This is the only way to produce an earmold that is precisely tailored to your ear canal and fits perfectly in your ear.
The creation of earmolds is done by hand. The acoustician inserts a silicone mass into the part of your ear canal where the earmold is to be inserted. The silicone mass hardens in the ear, and so the acoustician obtains an exact impression of your ear canal with this impression. However, the material does not come into contact with the sensitive skin inside your ear. Our acousticians work so carefully and routinely that the process is completely harmless and painless for you. Based on the impression, it is then possible to take all the details of your ear canal. This is where the right shape counts, because otherwise your hearing aid will not stay where it should later on. In most cases, an earmold is made in a specialized laboratory.
Maximum comfort when wearing a hearing aid
Earmolds are made of silicone or other plastics such as acrylic. The decisive factor here is the composition on the one hand, and the sensitivity of your auditory canal on the other. The material properties are different, and the same applies to the degree of hardness.
Otoplasty hard or soft?
As a rule, the earmold remains in your ear canal for several hours each day. In order to make the earmold as unnoticeable to you as possible, both soft and hard materials are used.
Sometimes it happens that plastics used for the earmolds cause allergies. In such cases, the earmolds can even be gold-plated or glazed. This means that there is then no direct contact of the skin with the plastic. Thermotec and Neutacryl are also frequently used as allergen-free plastics.
The most important properties of earmolds for hearing aids are:
- high resilience
- skin compatibility
- accuracy of fit
Otoplastics hearing protection
Did you know that earmolds have another possible use? They can also be worn as individual hearing protection. There are even special earplugs that serve as hearing protection on the one hand and are used for sound transmission on the other.
So, earmolds are also used as individual protection for hearing, because they offer better wearing comfort than the usual earplugs. In addition, the protective effect is much better.
Especially professional musicians, musicians and other occupational groups who need to be able to understand sounds and speech well, mostly resort to this individual protection for the hearing.
Earmolds do not distort the sound and frequencies of speech and music, which unfortunately is often the case with simple materials.
Many TV and radio presenters also appreciate earmolds, as well as security guards and reporters. This makes it easier for them to hear and understand speech despite ambient noise. The price of such earmolds also depends on the area of application, and the pricing depends, among other things, on the material.