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Concha locks, retention locks, etc. for receivers, molds... what are these?

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I have small, strange ear canals and I really have trouble getting hearing aids to stay in my ears. I’ve given up on custom molds, for instance, because they just fall out.

Lately I’ve been using – on a different pair of aids – thin tubes with the retention locks that are just like plastic cords that stick out. These fall out, too.

On this forum and elsewhere, I see mentions of different kinds of locks. I’ve even come across somebody talking about molds with locks.

Thing is, I have no idea what these things look like. Google image search isn’t much help. I’m wondering if anybody could tell me (us) what different kinds of locks there are, and what they look like.

Thank you!

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The locks available are all about the same. Its the various manufacturers call them by different names. They’re all just a bit of monfilament.

@corona said:

I have small, strange ear canals and I really have trouble getting hearing aids to stay in my ears. I’ve given up on custom molds, for instance, because they just fall out.

You can get custom earmolds with canal locks. The lock is an extension of the earmold which sits in the lowest part of your concha rim and prevents the earmold from migrating out of your ear canal. The bottom of this page has some examples: http://www.soniclabs.co.uk/Products_hearing_openfit.html196

@KenP said:

The locks available are all about the same. Its the various manufacturers call them by different names. They’re all just a bit of monfilament.

And I so far have not been able to get these to stay in. The domes are so intent on wiggling their way out that the locks just pop out :frowning:

@rasmus_braun said:

You can get custom earmolds with canal locks. The lock is an extension of the earmold which sits in the lowest part of your concha rim and prevents the earmold from migrating out of your ear canal. The bottom of this page has some examples: http://www.soniclabs.co.uk/Products_hearing_openfit.html

Excellent! Thank you. And I guess I need to rethink the question of custom molds. The only ones I’ve ever had were the kind that are sort of like a piece of bubble gum jammed into your ear. They never fit properly, even though I think the dispensers who made the impressions were very careful and thorough.

@corona said:

Excellent! Thank you. And I guess I need to rethink the question of custom molds. The only ones I’ve ever had were the kind that are sort of like a piece of bubble gum jammed into your ear. They never fit properly, even though I think the dispensers who made the impressions were very careful and thorough.

Get a skeleton mold with an extended helix + the canal lock and see if they work for you.

I’ve got tricky ears too apparently. molds, even with concha locks never stayed put. Canal locks on my custom molds are perfect.

Get them. They will solve all your problems.

Evil.

In reply to @seb

@seb said:

Get a skeleton mold with an extended helix + the canal lock and see if they work for you.

I had originally asked what these were, but then I find this on Audiology Online:

http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/earmolds-and-more-maximizing-patient-850155

— Updated —

@Evil_Scientist said:

I’ve got tricky ears too apparently. molds, even with concha locks never stayed put. Canal locks on my custom molds are perfect.

Get them. They will solve all your problems.

Evil.

Thank you!

I used full shell molds made out of silicone, and they never fall out. Domes are not really an option for me, even double , though I do have a backup pair that uses them. I also have very small ear canals, so I need the stability of shell molds.

Your hearing is not quite as bad as mine, so you have more options. It’s just my experience with domes that they don’t stay put. Been very happy with silicone shells.

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