Earmold Definition
An Earmold is a part of BTE hearing aids. It fits inside the ear canal and routs the sound from the hearing aid through a thin tube to the ear.
Earmolds are made based on your ear canal size. When you choose to use a BTE hearing aid, the audiologist takes an impression from your ear canal to make an earmold in your exact ear canal size.
Earmolds have different sizes. The audiologist chooses the right size for you based on your hearing loss degree. 3 main sizes of earmolds are canal, half shell and full shell. You can see the sizes in the picture below.
Earmolds are made of different materials. They have soft and hard types. Earmolds are generally made from one of three materials: acrylic, vinyl or silicone. The decision of choosing which, is made by the audiologist.
Difference between Dome and Mold
Dome is a good choice for mild to moderate hearing loss. For those with more severe to profound hearing losses, earmolds are more suitable as they provide more amplification and proper sound quality. They are also better for those with trouble hearing at low frequencies. Another plus point is that they fit better in ear canal since they are made based on the ear canal size.
