I have very profound hearing loss and tried silicone ear molds and it caused skin irritation. I have been using hard shell by Starkey, no issues. I tried the skeleton ear mold and after a few months, it was putting pressure on the Concha and the Antihelix part of the ear. I had to cut most of the skeleton earmold. I have to order a full hard shell earmold. An audiologist suggested using a ear lotion many years ago and it did make my ear skin very irritated. Everyone has different reactions to earmold materials. If you have profound hearing loss, don’t order an vent for the earmold and can cause feedback.
I got new Phonak Infinios with acrylic molds about four months ago, and after one easily working out every hour or so, I asked my audi if it could be remade but textured so it would’n’t be so slippery. To my surprise the answer was YES. Now my new textured mold stays in all day!
Never had to have a mold made more than once. Maybe you should find a new audiologist. I’ve had four sets of ear molds made and everyone was fine the first time
True, so that would be left up to individual clinic/Audiologist to see who else is offering them, can’t see many that would bother trying anything outside what offer tho!
I see down at the bottom of the second chart, they talk about for people whose ear canals don’t retain, and who have excessive movement of the TMJ. That’s me!!
Today I told my fitter that I needed new molds deeper in the canal. So she put the impression so deep in one ear that I coughed, and so deep in the other ear that it hurt (a little) and there was a vacuum pressure. But it was the right move. She gave me an open fit block in my mouth. This time, I think it will work!
That’s one way to address the problem. Someone in a different thread quite a while ago said that she ordered titanium molds roughed up for the same reason. Costco doesn’t have titanium molds.
I didn’t know that you could do that with acrylic molds.
I’m working with Costco, where they are fitters, not audiologists. The first time, the fitter wasn’t very experienced with molds. But it wasn’t just that; I have very narrow ear canals and totally straight, my current fitter told me. She’s quite experienced with molds, which I sough out.
I also seem to have excessive TMJ movement, which makes sense, because I have Ehler’s-Danlos, I believe, where my joints and ligaments are hypermobile, which was great for a professional dancer, but not so great for everyday life.
@pageskipro I think I know what you mean. And I think that is what I’m getting this time. Mine are receiver in the ear, . I really think these will finally work!
One other thing I discovered in my search last night was a suggestion for insertion of the aids: to pull the top of the ear up and back as you press the aid in with your pinky. This opens the canal, so they go in deeper.
I was stunned, such a simple tip made a huge difference, and the aids didn’t seem to pop out after that!! How did I not come across that before??!!
It seemed like the answer, except after a while they slowly started working their was outwards again, but far less so.
So, that it is absolutely helpful, but not the total picture.
Mine are not , my hearing aids are behind the ear (). They are one of the larger therefore heavier type of aid, so it is probably easier for them to fall out. This Along with my small ear canal is probably why I need the extra ballast which includes molds that extend farther into the ear and have the extra frame work along the outside of the ear (the skeleton model) to make the whole thing stable.
I am not but as soon as you said Costco and mention fitters I’m going to save without question that your mistake. I understand the anatomy I understand what you suffer from but if there’s any way possible you can be fitted by an actual audiologist then I suggest you do so. 35 years I’ve tried everyone and everything and unless they’re an actual audiologist I don’t believe they are competent and anything you actually get from Costco is going to be second right at best. And literally the only thing they sell that I would even consider would be the Jabra Enhance. To me the other brands they carry our second rate. I’ve done tons of research on hearing aids because I replace mine every 5 years or so due to the fact I wear them 18 hours a day 7 days a week. It’s your decision and that’s my opinion and I hope the best for you but I don’t trust my hearing to a fitter only a certified audiologist. You have a nice night.
Thanks for the information. You should definitely look at getting an ear scan given your Ehler’s-Danlos as your fitting will be a challenge for even an experienced mould maker without this. All of their usual modelling assumptions may not apply with you.
I posted a new issue in my ongoing very long saga with my .
My left HA wouldn’t charge anymore, so I had to bring it in to be sent back and fixed or replaced.
I also had to have the molds redone for the third time. When I went back to pick them up, I was late( yeesh!) and the fitter had left, as she had a funeral to attend. So another fitter gave me the left one that had come in (not sure if fixed or replaced), and she adjusted them. But Jabra send the aids back without the existing mold! Or, probably the fitter took it off, but the fitter I ended up seeing didn’t know where it was?
I have to find out if the new molds have come in yet, and make another appointment to see the mold whisperer. She is only in Monday am and is always quite booked up.
Truthfully, if I had had any idea how hard the 2 Costco stores would be to get to, and how many times I’d have to go in, I would have chosen another place to get the HAs.
I’ve lost count of how many appointments I’ve had, but it it really a lot!! And we can’t just drive there, as others do. Our car is kaput now, but more to the point, traffic and parking are a major headache in NYC! So, it’s a long trek of walking to the subway, a very long subway ride, sometimes changing trains, and then a walk from there. This time it was around 100 degrees Fahrenheit and in the sun. In the winter, it was bone-chillingly cold and windy.
Sorry for the rant, it’s just exhausting and we’re at our wits end.
I have to wonder, if I had gone with a private audiologist, would they willingly accommodate all of the unending issues?? Although I tried, I never got a referral to someone good, although they must be out there here. But that’s not where I am now.
My issue is not with the fitters, although the first one at another Costco wasn’t at all experienced with molds, etc., through no fault of his own. (
It’s luck of the draw. I’ve had various frustrations with Costco and private. The vendors often do odd things that the fitters are not able to control. It’s a custom product and comes with more chance for the need for further work. Things get lost, broken, incorrectly returned, etc.
If you get to the point of being happy with the result that is pretty good as some users remain unsatisfied. And you saved plenty per additional hour considering private would require some travel and frustration too.
As you’re far ask if Costco can make a file note to call you the day before to confirm everything is in order for your visit.
Have you looked to see whether there’s a hearingup2 provider near you? As someone with complex needs it is probably in your interest to pay for the highest quality service.
I’m not sure how valuable hearingup is as, as far as I can tell practitioners just have to watch a webinar (maybe), pay Cliff $2000 and sign a form saying that they promise to be good and then they can market themselves as part of his prestigious group. There’s no oversight. It would be nice if States would work on adding a bit more professional regulation. Cliff himself has no power to audit anyone, and also no time or inclination.
Florida, USA
Poland
