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Frequent wax filter change required with custom molds

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I’ve had hard plastic custom molds for a few weeks, skeleton molds for just under two weeks. Prior to that, I tried various soft domes with Rexton Reach from Costco (returned just short of 6 mo) and with 2 different Phonak model for about a month. Never needed to change the before the recommended 4 weeks.

As soon as I got the custom molds (needed because the others kept popping out), first the right and them the left HA started losing volume, first intermittently, then altogether - after a week or less. I thought it was due to a loose connection inside the mold, but since very faint sound persisted, my audiologist said that it must be due to wax. True, changing the wax guard restored the sound, but only for a week or less.

Anyone else encounter this kind of problem or have an idea what’s going on? The HAs are Phonak Infinio i30 and are otherwise excellent.

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Everybody’s ears are different. I need to replace my weekly.

I use EarGene weekly and I wear custom ear molds and I change my about every 6 weeks. So yes we are all individuals with different needs and requirements.

In reply to @Simplicity

This only started for me with the hard plastic custom molds (custom skeleton mold being the only thing that doesn’t frequently fall out of my ears) not when I used soft domes.

Because canal receiver earmolds have the right at the tip of the earmold, and because many non-custom domes cover up the wax guard, it is not unreasonable to expect the earmold wax guard to get plugged sooner. However, something else to consider is related to your recent experience with domes. When a non-custom dome/receiver is in the ear, particularly needing to be repeatedly pushed back in, it could be scraping and pushing wax around, and when you put an earmold in it might be catching the wax just right (or wrong!).

My audiologist attached a new mould to my right hearing aid last week. By that evening, I had no sound in my right ear.

I have had to go a week with no sound. No, it’s not the waxguard, which I replaced immediately just in case. Not my ear, which was free of wax at the appointment, during which I saw an as well. I know it’s the wire.

This is far from the first time it’s happened, either. I have an appointment this week, but meanwhile I have had a really bad time being unable to hear pretty much anything, even with the left aid turned all the way up.

It seems like it must be very easy for the wire to be attached poorly in an acrylic earmould.

Yeah that’s not good, really annoying I’m sure, you could swap the receiver over to confirm, but one thing if possible to keep some spare receivers, you could then just fit a dome until it’s fixed.

This is some good advice; thanks, Tenkan. My husband says he has the small tools to do that. When I see my audiologist tomorrow, I’m going to ask about an additional speaker.

Katy

Agreed, having a spare set of receivers can sure help. If anything they are a good troubleshooting tool.

When I first switched to custom molds with the at the tip, the filters clogged ridiculously often. The clog was easily visible with a 10x magnifier. My audiologist suggested squirting warm water into each ear daily, and that greatly reduced the frequency of clogging. I think this is more effective at keeping the ears clear (vs. just keeping the filters clear) if you squirt at the correct angle, the same angle that lets an ear camera see straight through to the eardrum.

https://a.co/d/0cGpgQOT9 [Wax Removal Kit]

I’ve used one similar to this a few times over the years. The squeeze bottle and warm water also worked for removing a too small dome that fell off the receiver into my ear canal.

FWIW, an doc told me he recommended to his swimming clients with ear infectionissues, the occasional swab out with alcohol. (Hydrogen Peroxide works too from my experience, but I’m not a doctor so….).

I actually use a product called “Swim Ear” on a Q-Tip about twice per month. Again - Not a doctor!

In reply to @MaxineKL

I use a bulb syringe from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DFH4DWF5

These pictures of ear canal orientation give you an idea of how to point the syringe:

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Squirting water in the ears daily may be contraindicated for some people, like those with surgically altered anatomy, or those who develop problems from moisture. But if you’re able to do it then it can really help. I shove earmolds into my ears every day, and I generate a lot of wax, but I think I’ve only had my ears cleaned twice since I started using the syringe at the beginning of 2022. Any cleaning that’s needed is much easier because the water keeps the wax soft.

I’ve been using custom molds for about 6 months now and notice I have to change the filters more often than when using soft domes.

2 things I have noticed are that firstly the is totally exposed with custom molds whereas it was hidden/covered by the soft dome. Secondly I’ve found that the filter will be blocked after I’ve had a shower (with the out) and it just needs a bit of blow on it and it’s all good again.

I also find that the custom molds are so much more stable and stay put :slightly_smiling_face:

That’s really interesting. Tonight both needed changing when I put them back in after a hot bath. I wonder whether the hit water softens the wax, making it more likely to block the filter but also easier to clear.Next time…..

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