Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Need molds redone for a third time, need feedback

68 replies1.6k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Reply
Edited

I’ve had molds made first by a fitter who wasn’t experienced with molds. As soon as we got in the car to leave, they were already falling out of my ears.

I then got referred to a fitter at a different Costco, and she referred me to her mentor, who was experienced with molds. They are better, but they still come out.

She said that my ear canals are very small and that they don’t have the normal bends. I don’t know if she meant only the first bend wasn’t there, or even both bends?? If that’s even possible.

So these are better, but not good, because every time I eat, even without chewing, or talk, the left one pops out. So I am constantly popping it back in, only for it to pop out again.

They are silicone, so I don’t know if acrylic would be better. They already have skeleton locks, edit: they aren’t skeleton locks, it’s a receiver in the ear with a thingy on the bottom (I don’t know what this configuration is called).

So what would be the fix? To make them go even deeper in the ear? Try acrylic? I also see that acrylic can break if you drop them—and I have total butterfingers due to neuropathy.

Does anyone have feedback about what would make them stay in? I have an appointment to see her Monday morning, so I want to get a good idea of what to ask for.

Thank you! I am not giving up, but this time had better be the charm.

14 people in this conversation23 min readJump to latest

The hard plastic skeletal earmolds stay in place for me. Almost impossible for me to shake loose. In 46 years I only broke one or two by stepping on them by mistake.

A key to good fitment is to keep you mouth open. This is known as “open-jaw impression”.

This ensures the ear canals are enlarged so the finished mold makes a tight seal.

Some audi’s use dental bite blocks, but It’s not essential, as long as you keep the jaw relaxed, and static while material cures.

Seems like chewing defeats the purpose. How can the impression material set properly if it’s being compressed, and enlarged?

I’ve never seen acrylics break, and I’ve been wearing them for many years. Thermoplastic molds are also an option. Oticon calls them OtoTherm. since they’re firm at room temp it’s easy to insert, and then once inside, they become flexible, gel-like.

Talk it over on Monday, and see if they can figure out a working solution for you.

Edited

@flashb1024

@flashb1024 Hmmm, it sounds like you’re right about the chewing while curing. The simplest thing would be to use acrylic, so Costco can do it instead of taking it elsewhere. I think I’ve done the mouth open but without the chewing for the first set of molds, but they weren’t acrylic.

I don’t know if I should go back to skeleton locks, but they didn’t work before. the ones I have now have worked the best so far, but they are far from workable, as they keep popping out.

Is there anything else we should consider? It seems as if maybe my TMJ is hyper mobile (as with my other joints). Plus, the shape of my ear canals.

In reply to @flashb1024

@flashb1024

@flashb1024 Actually the thermoplastic molds sound great! Except that I am not sure how I’d access them, and if it would be worth the trouble versus acrylic molds. I’d be winging it, when I don’t have the knowhow to hook up the receiver and wires (tubes? whatever you call the things that look like fishing line), and also the maintenance and fixing of them. It doesn’t seem practical for Costco.

Sometimes people have a lot of soft tissue in their canals that can change the shape of the canal dramatically when chewing. In these cases it is recommended to find a clinic with an ear scanner and take two scans of each ear - one with the jaw open wide and one with the jaw closed. The shell manufacturer can compare the two and create shells that take into account the difference between the two states. This could be a good recommendation in your case.

Hi there, I have small ear canals too and need custom molds. I think you are correct when you say you need ear molds that go further into the canal. I had the “shorties” once and they fell out too. So you probably want molds that are longer therefore fit deeper into the canal, you may also need the flange to extend further towards the outside of your ear. I think they call it the foot. All of this will make the ear mold much more stable. Do you wear aids? If this makes no sense, I can send you a picture.

In reply to @Blue_Pearl1

which make & model do you wear? You can check the mfg product page for types of earmolds they make, and you could have costco order them. Philips, Jabra and Rexton should have the thermo-plastic stye materials. They probably have them listed as Flex Canal or e-Compound, etc.

Quick hint: gemini or chatgpt are your friend.

In reply to @pageskipro

@pageskipro

@pageskipro Thank you! This is really helpful. I think mine is 5x or 5. I’ve had the skeleton lock before. I’m not sure which one would be best now, but whatever would hold it in place the best, plus whatever helps my particular hearing the best.

I am going to get a new hearing test, hopefully this coming week, or at worst the beginning of the following week.

In reply to @flashb1024

@flashb1024

@flashb1024 Thank you! I have the Costco Jabra Enhance Pro 30. I just did 2 Gemini searches (and duckduckgo search, but haven’t come up with the specific types of molds available yet.

If Costco does have thermo-plastic molds available, it seems like they might be best, but I’d be suprised if they do. Otherwise, I’d be looking at acrylic molds. Oh, yeah, you said: Flex Canal or e-Compound as the wording may be.

In reply to @Blue_Pearl1

Most hospitals are unlikely to have an ear scanner, but a lot of higher-end private clinics do have them. You just need to ask around. Dr Cliff talks about the only widely available option in this video below:

Ear scanners aren’t suitable for use with children or very small ear canals because the probe doesn’t fit deeply enough into the ear and you need the client to remain very still (for children) in order for the procedure to be done safely.

@Hearing_Potential

@Hearing_Potential Thank you, I just went to the link and watched Dr. Cliff’s video about it. It sounds great. If this mold I will get from new impressions tomorrow doesn’t work out, I will likely look for an office that has the ear scanner.

Thank you, again, for the information. Yes, a video is worth it over more words.

Related discussions