What Are Earmolds and Could You Benefit From Them?

Ears are not one size fits all. Even right and left ears can be shaped differently. So, for those who wear hearing aids, it can be a challenge to find a just-right fit inside your ear. Custom earmolds can make a difference.

Earmolds can take the place of traditional domes as the part of a hearing aid that goes inside your ear. Unlike bell-shaped silicone domes, which come in standard sizes, earmolds are constructed in plastic or silicone to fit the individual shape of your ear canal, securing your hearing aid device with a snug fit. While they do come in small, medium and large sizes, they are often customized based on impressions of your inner ear made by the audiologist. Earmolds may be beneficial for non-hearing aid applications, too, such as hearing protection and sleep aids.

Although earmolds offer a perfect fit inside your ear, are they a perfect fit for you and your hearing needs? Here are a few questions to help determine if you could benefit from this custom-made option.

Do you have low-frequency or high-frequency hearing loss?

Because earmolds fit snugly inside the ear canal, they can make the biggest impact for people who have trouble hearing across low frequencies or all frequencies. That’s because the snug fit prevents amplified sound from escaping and creating a feedback loop (similar to the loud whistle that happens when a microphone is too close to a speaker). For hearing loss that’s limited to higher-pitched sounds, the fact that standard hearing aid domes let background noises and air in is beneficial, and custom earmolds usually aren’t necessary.

How significant is your hearing loss?

Earmolds provide the most powerful amplification, which makes them especially beneficial for those with moderate to severe hearing loss. A hearing aid dome is usually sufficient for those with mild hearing loss.

How long have you been wearing hearing aids?

If you are new to hearing aids, you might find hearing aid domes more comfortable and convenient as you adjust to wearing your device. For current dome users who are experiencing fit and discomfort issues, earmolds could offer a better solution for your individual ear shape.

Keep in mind that a custom fit does create a greater chance of producing an occlusion effect that makes your voice sound hollow and muffled to you. But this can be managed with periodic adjustments to fine-tune sound characteristics with your hearing aid.

CareCredit can help

Earmolds generally cost more than standard dome-style hardware, but remember that the CareCredit credit card is an easy way to pay for all of your hearing aid expenses, including earmolds.* Use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a nearby audiologist or hearing care provider who accepts the CareCredit credit card.