Custom SlimTip Ear Molds - first impression

[quote=“Bimodal_user, post:19, topic:104314”]
May I ask what the prices of scanning and making SlimTips were separately?
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It was an all in price of USD190 however it should have been USD260. Phonak charged an extra $70 (to the audiologist) for the half skeleton extensions. She said without them some patients experience issues with the molds working their way out. I have had no problems what so ever. It’s as if they aren’t there. And, my hearing experience is greatly improved. Can’t believe the difference. Why oh why didn’t this happen years ago!

I have already referred two local friends to the Audi. I thought she was very competent.

$260 for a pair (in my case, $130 for one ear) seems pretty decent! And $190 per pair - wonderful! A very profitable investment!

I thought that with 3D scanning it would be much more expensive.

@Neville said:

The OP has a slim tip, so it’s removable. As long as the receiver strength is the same, you can just swap it over.

I see your point on that. Yes!

WH

I have been wearing hearing aids for 10 years or so. I have used both dome and custom fit. I personally am trying out the Phonak 90 sphere hearing aids now and I finally have the speach clarity have been seeking so long. I had Resound for a long time, but even the new ones I tried Vivia didn’t have good speech clarity. I have had custom fit for the past 3 years with resound 3D and they are okay but I have a lot of wax and have to change fliters often. Also with custom fit the hearing aids can come out easier than dome. So I am in trial with Phonak 90 sphere right now with domes. I was thinking about getting the custom molds, but I notice two positive things about domes: (1) less wax build up, (2)don’t have to change filters very often, (2) much more secure, comfortable fit

To help with cleaning the wax out of the new custom molds I purchased a Jodi-Vac. This supposedly reduces the need to change wax filters as often and also enables cleaning without removing the receiver from the mold.

@platypus
I appreciate your post very much.
I have new Slim Tip ear molds too. A simple mold. No mess Two weeks later I had 2 new Power Receivers with new wax guards and two ear molds. And heard better instantly. (My hearing care provider doesn’t speak Phonak well yet. He’s very skilled though. He called them cshells or something.)

They don’t move.

I swear some when I change the wax guards.
I know they’re Phonak.
and the replacement waxguards are Cerustop. That’s good.

I’m just really clumsy changing them. Takes 3 to have two good 'uns.

Oh…the wax guards don’t come off and get left behind in my ear like the domes did. 5 or 10 times in about 20 years of hearing aid use.

DaveL

Thanks for this. Good suggestion.

@platypus

Great post!

I’ve had the same experience. My Canadian SlimFit inserts were taken from a mould made by my Hearing Instrument Specialist. I’ve never had an adjustment. They fit really well…I hear better two.
DaveL

@platypus said:

Can’t believe the difference. Why oh why didn’t this happen years ago!

Just my 2c’s, in the 20 years that I have had Ha’s, I always had custom ear molds, it’s not new, just depends on the Audi’s wish to make these Ha’s work the best for oneself.

My first hearing aid ever was one Widex in the ear. Digital. Cheap.
The first hearing aid specialist was so good she left, exposing the company forwhat they were.

So I learned slowly. When the HA was just about out of warranty they made another one. First had squeeled when I ate and chewed. Relacement (no warranty left) fit really really tight. It actually hurt, but didn’t squeel. (I could hear 50 yards behind me; but couldn’t 3 feet in front of me) Had it for a long time. I’d take it out when I was stressed and forget to put it back in.

Point is, that moulded hearing aid never fit right. I chose to ignore any suggestions to get moulded inserts because of that.

The Widex hearing aid was out of sight in my ear canal. It had a small pull string to remove it.

Dave

edit: I have trouble knowing the right terms sometimes. For instance I described my Phonak Audeo Paradise P90R hearing aids as “behind the ear” because they are.

they’re Receiver in Canal. I didn’t know. Someone who doesn’t post here anymore set me straight.