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Custom Ear Mold Fitting Problem

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Edited

I recently had Widex custom ear molds made.

My Audi took a silicone impression of my ear, the impression was then scanned to a computer and then printed on a laser printer.

I’ve worn them for 2 weeks and my left ear is sore; I think they’re too big.

After emailing my Audi, she said that they could be filed down or the impressions could be retaken.

I don’t want to file them and loose the glossy finish so I will ask her to redo the entire process.

My fear is that having worn these for a couple of weeks my ears have stretched and now the new impression will be even larger.

I’m thinking of using regular domes for a couple of days before the next impression to reduce the swelling and/or I’m wondering if she can have the next impression reduced in size by the computer by 10% ?

Any suggestions on how I can get the fitting done right or any comments on custom mold fitting experience ?

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The first time I had ear molds made the audiologist had me sit very still–no jaw movement. The molds were too tight and hurt a lot. I eventually went to another audiologist. He had me move my jaw around while the impression was being made. The second pair ended up fitting and being comfortable.

An audiologist making his/her own earmolds is fairly niche, as most will just ship the impressions to the manufacturer to make. Regardless, I would not expect significant stretching due to earmold fit. Or, if it was big enough to cause permanent stretching you likely would not have been able to tolerate it even for a little bit. If anything, I would expect swelling to occur and so technically your ear would be smaller, meaning the impression would be smaller.
For concerns of losing the finish on the earmolds, it is common for offices to have a grinder but also a buffer to help smooth areas out. In your defense, this is not the same as glossing, however.
I think your idea of using domes in the meantime is a good call and is similar to what I would do if I was concerned about swelling.
@Noreen1009 has a good point about jaw position during impressions. The ear canal does change shape a bit with jaw motion, so informing the earmold company about open-jaw or closed-jaw or moving-jaw would be appropriate.

I had a similar problem with a tight ear mold. This was actually the 2nd mold – my audi thought the 1st one was too loose and had another made. So I switched back to the old one until a week before my last appointment.

I mentioned the problem and she ground/polished it a bit to reduce the pressure. It is hard to tell by looking where she worked on it. It is now more comfortable though still slightly tight.

In reply to @Noreen1009

Thanks Noreen, that’s interesting, I guess “moving the jaw” added some pressure to the ear canal and reduced the size of it as the impression as it was forming. Geez, I hope you’re right, I’ll ask the Audi what she thinks before I do that but it sounds like a plan.

In reply to @PaulC

Hey PaulC,
The Audi will be shipping out the impressions to be laser printed elsewhere.
The custom molds I received are obviously too large and are causing soreness, as well their size could be stretching out my ear canal just a bit. I will use the dome replacements for a few days prior to making the new impressions, and I may employ the jaw motion as Noreen1009 suggested.
Thanks

In reply to @FredO

Thanks FredO,
1st off, if your mold is still too tight then go back and get the Audi to grind it down again, in my case I have a guarantee that would include new molds to be made within 30 days.
If my Audi insists on grinding it down, I’m not even clear where or which side is where the pain is.
Would she grind and buff everywhere? how much grinding, I don’t think this is a precise art, more like grind and test and grind more and test again.
Good luck!

My Cshell acrylic molds caused a pressure point on my right ear. My audiologist reshaped it and polished it. You would never know that it had been altered and the fit is perfect now.

I’ve been wearing hearing aids for 18 years. About a year ago now I ordered some new Widex Moment 330’s. New molds were taken. When I received the hearing aids they were so long into my ear canal and the right one hurt. Ended up with an ear infection. My right was sent back to Widex to shorten length. When returned it was too short and started falling out.

New impressions were made and new HA’s arrived with the right one still not fitting properly. Eventually Widex made a new pair using my previous molds from 5 years ago (my previous pair which still fit fine). They arrived but had trouble with sound feedback and now left HA was loose and moved around. After they suggested silicone to prevent movement I said no I want a proper fitting left HA. They had it remade. It fit better but has caused some ear pain and have to keep taking it out.

What happened? After all these years of getting well fitted CIC HA’s I’ve had to deal with this nightmare! I’m considering trying HA’s and I’m trying out a pair right now but don’t like the differences with the audio. Shall I persevere and try them out further. If not, how do I move forward with CIC’s and not have to repeat this past 12 months. Would love some advice. Thank you.

Edited

@NeilT

When your mouth opens, the shape of your ear canal changes a little. Using a bite block holds this position for the taking of impressions. An Audiologist suggested it for a better fit. My last impressions were done by a different Audiologist, and I had to ask for a bit block. She was quite happy with this, and these impressions are the best I’ve had. They seem a “fuller” fit, and I get no issues with them slipping. I get no issues with feedback or leakage when chewing.

It works for me.
Peter

Edit: It seems to be recommended when making “in ear monitors” for musicians

Thanks PeterH for the clarification,
Very well, makes sense but it is the opposite position of previous suggestions in this thread that have stated that moving my jaw will make a slightly smaller impression as opposed to your suggestion of freezing my jaw - Bite block - will make a fuller fit.
My ears are sore from the previous previous fitting (I had stood absolutely still when it was taken) and that ended up too large for my ear.
My appointment is TM, oh what to do what to do…?

In reply to @Celebration740

Ihadthe same experience with an in the ear Widex.

My reaction? People here suggested that I needed moulded inserts for my hearing aids. I didn’t listen for. A long time.

I should have.

My Phonak Slimtips are wonderful. Well made. No adjustments made.

Edited

In reply to @NeilT

@NeilT said:

Pls elaborate, what does the bite block help top do and what exactly is a “bite block”

Earmolds and Hearing Aid Shells: A Tutorial Part 2: Impression-Taking...16

A series of articles on one of the most critical, and problematic, parts of the hearing aid fitting process. In Part 2, techniques for making the perfect impression.

image (7)

@NeilT said:

Very well, makes sense but it is the opposite position of previous suggestions in this thread that have stated that moving my jaw will make a slightly smaller impression as opposed to your suggestion of freezing my jaw - Bite block - will make a fuller fit.

See the picture on our left (“Compression”) —there is a relatively smaller group of patients with your experience.

Thanks Bimodal_user,
The study is very informative.
Directed for technicians I honestly did not understood all of it but the take-away is clear: Open mouth impressions results in better impressions and fewer remakes.
I’ll be visiting my Audi today and suggest she does this technique if she decides to remake my impression.
Thanks

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