Custom Earmolds and Earplugs

The audiologist examines the ear canal first, places a small foam block to protect the eardrum, then fills the canal with a soft silicone material that sets in a few minutes and is removed as a mold of your ear. It is not painful, though the sensation of the canal filling is unfamiliar the first time.

Foam earplugs can be an effective, low-cost option when correctly selected and inserted. Custom plugs may suit repeated use or particular listening needs, but they also require a proper fit and seal. Ask your audiologist to show you correct insertion and discuss the protection appropriate to your noise exposure.

It depends on the material and how much they are worn. Soft materials used for children and for sleep wear out faster than harder acrylics. Children also outgrow molds as their ears grow, which is the usual reason a child’s earmold is replaced well before it has worn out.

Very often, yes. Feedback whistling usually means sound is leaking back out of the ear and being picked up again by the microphone, and a mold that no longer seals is the most common cause. A new impression and a remade mold resolve a large share of feedback complaints.

Yes. Swim plugs are made from a material that floats and seals against water, and they are a common request for children with ear tubes and for adults prone to outer-ear infections. They are a different design from noise-protection plugs, so tell the clinic what you need them for when you book.

Yes. Sleep plugs are made from softer material and shaped to sit flush so they do not press when you lie on your side, which is the usual reason people give up on ordinary earplugs. They attenuate sound without eliminating it, which is what makes them workable with an alarm clock.

The impression is taken at your appointment and sent to a laboratory, so there is a wait between the impression appointment and pickup. Ask the clinic about current turnaround times when you book, particularly if you need them for a specific date such as a concert or a trip.

Yes. Earmolds are made for your ear, not for a brand, and we service and support hearing aids bought elsewhere. Bring your hearing aid to the impression appointment so the mold is made with the right tubing and coupling for your specific device.