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How often should custom earmolds be replaced?

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Hi, I got my Widex 5 years ago, along with custom earmolds. How often should earmolds be replaced, if at all? Originally there were small plastic grommets (for want of a better word) on the mold to capture the replaceable , but they have somehow fallen out. Now wax guards disappear sometimes – who knows where they end up, hopefully not inside my ear canal. When I first noticed a missing grommet, I mentioned it to my audiologist, and she didn’t seem concerned. Now both aids have missing grommets. Not sure if replacement molds are expensive or if my existing molds can be refitted with grommets. At this point, I’m sure whatever warranties I was granted at time of purchase have expired. Given the pandemic, is it worth a trip to her office?
**Edited for spelling correction. Thanks, Jeffrey!

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Mine last pretty long. Years. But if they’re getting hard or you suddenly getting feedback when you didn’t get it in the past, it might be time

Not sure what you mean by “hard” – the composite they used to make the custom inserts has always been rigid. Thanks for your response.

I would get new impressions and get new custom moulds made. It sounds like there is wear and tear, the wax traps need to be able to sit securely in the mould to protect the receiver. In 5 years you could also have subtle changes in the ear canal meaning a new fitting is now appropriate.

In reply to @tinkyp

Thanks for your response. I haven’t been to the audio in a little over a year, probably time for her to tweak my programs anyway. Hindsight being perfect, of course, I realize I should have done so during the lull in COVID. Alas and alack. I think I’ll call her today.

Hope all goes well and if you are going to tweak, best to do it after the new custom moulds and make sure the sensogram is re-run when you receive them. If your current customs are not quite as effective as they were, your current acoustics will have be compromised. The new customs may fix this, or by checking the hearing once you have tried them you can be sure what you wish to change.

After many years my one custom mold lost the grommet for the as well. A guy at the hearing center I go to was excellent at improvising a better fitting wax gaurd meant for another model. Then, the darn thing needed work and I had to have it repaired–complete with new grommet-ma-bob thingy.

Thanks, Jeffrey. At least now I know how to spell “grommet” correctly!

@kh77 said:

How often should earmolds be replaced, if at all?

It is very possible your ear canals can expand or compress over time.
If you are not experiencing any fitment issues, it’s ok to wait, but 5 years is a long time imho.
Normally new impressions and earmolds should be part of initial fitting of new hearing instruments.

@kh77 said:

Originally there were small plastic grommets (for want of a better word) on the mold to capture the replaceable wax guards, but they have somehow fallen out. Now wax guards disappear sometimes – who knows where they end up, hopefully not inside my ear canal.

That’s scary, and reason enough to get those old Moldy moulds replaced, for sure!

Edited
@kh77 said:

Originally there were small plastic grommets (for want of a better word)

I’m not 100% sure of this, and it really doesn’t matter a hoot, but isn’t the word we’re looking for called a bushing?

Definition of BUSHING1

a usually removable cylindrical lining for an opening (as of a mechanical part) used to limit the size of the opening, resist abrasion, or serve as a guide; an electrically insulating lining for a hole to protect a through conductor… See the full...

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