Every ear is uniquely shaped to help optimize hearing. Custom earmolds from Hearing & Balance Services of Reston, serve two purposes: to improve hearing aid performance and to protect the hearing of those who work in noisy environments. If you are in need of custom earmolds, call or make an appointment online today.
What are earmolds?
A custom earmold is a piece of soft material configured in a lab to fit right inside your ear canal or the concha, the outer structure of your ear that surrounds the canal. The position and coloring often make earmolds virtually invisible.
When you visit Hearing & Balance Services of Reston for a customized earmold, your audiologist uses a silicone-like substance to take an impression of both your ear canal and the outer part of your ear. This imprint gets sent to a lab where technicians transform it into a replica of the structure of your ear.
Custom earmolds help protect your hearing from loud sounds at work and play. Custom earmolds made for this purpose help to block most noise, while still allowing you to understand speech. Additionally, some swimmers use specialized ear molds that help keep water out of their ear canal.
If you wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, then earmolds are the plastic part that connects your ear canal to your hearing aid.
What are the different types of earmolds?
Earmolds come in a wide variety of colors and types. The most common materials used to make earmolds include soft acrylic, vinyl, and silicone. Vinyl is the most commonly used because not only does it not absorb earwax or harden over time, but its firmness allows you more in mold insertion freedom and better in-ear fitting.
Custom earmolds created for hearing protection usually come with a filtered attenuator, that allows for verbal communication, while still protecting your hearing in noisy environments.
Hearing protection earmolds come in both electronic and non-electronic models. The most popular models fit over certain earbud headphones and under pilot boom-mic headsets.
The type of earmold your audiologist recommends depends on your individual needs.
Why choose custom earmolds?
Similar to the way your eyeglass frames must fit your face, earmolds need to fit your ear. Proper fit enables your earmolds to prevent sound from leaking out and also prevents feedback creation without causing pain. Additional issues fixed through custom earmold adjustments include hearing your own voice as muffled or too loud and hearing whistling when you talk or chew.
For non-allergenic custom earmolds made of the latest soft material, call or make an appointment online today.
Custom earplugs
Earplugs are hearing protection that are designed to be worn in the canal only. Some earplugs are solid, while others allow for more sound to pass through. Specialized earplugs are available for musicians and medical professionals who still want the ability to hear most of their surroundings while protecting their hearing.
Specialty earplugs can be custom fit for your ear canal and are typically more comfortable than non-custom earplugs. Custom earplugs can be equipped with handles or detachable cords.
Earmolds and earplugs are not just for those who wish to protect themselves from high noise levels. Custom solutions are also available for other hobbies and activities, such as custom earplugs for swimmers, hunters or to be worn while sleeping.
Whatever your unique lifestyle, your hearing professional has custom solutions to fit your needs. Your hearing is important. Take care to protect it for today and for the future. If you work in a high-noise environment, it’s important to have regular hearing appointments to check for early indications of hearing loss. Speak with your hearing specialist today about the right solution for you.
For non-allergenic custom earmolds made of the latest soft material, call or make an appointment online today.