Innovative Technology
Earmolds for Hearing Aids
Hearing aids use all kinds of different components to help deliver sound into the ear canal. Custom earmolds for hearing aids are one way you can get a more personalized fit!
Molding hearing aids to your exact ear shape helps address your hearing loss, delivering sound quality that connects you with your favorite sounds while remaining comfortable to wear all day long.
Hearing Aid Molds vs. Domes
Earmolds
Custom-shaped inserts sculpted to fit comfortably in the outer ear. By creating a seal, they minimize the risk of feedback and make your hearing aids even more comfortable to wear. Usually, they’re used for moderate-to-profound hearing loss or unique canal shapes.
Domes
Soft, flexible caps that fit standard behind-the-ear (BTE) or receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) devices. Depending on the style, these non-customized components can allow natural sound and airflow into the ear canal.
Types of Earmolds for Hearing Aids
Earmold Materials
Flexible, durable, and highly comfortable! A silicone earmold offers a tight acoustic seal, but because it’s more porous than acrylic, it’s more susceptible to staining and can be harder to clean thoroughly.
Acrylic Earmold
Smooth and sturdy, but harder than silicone. An acrylic earmold is easy to insert and remove, resists discoloration over time, and works well for mild-to-severe hearing loss.
Earmold Styles & Personalization
Full Shell
- What it’s like: covers the entire outer ear for maximum seal and acoustic retention
- Who it’s for: severe to profound hearing loss
Half Shell
- What it’s like: covers only the bottom half of the outer ear
- Who it’s for: any degree of hearing loss
Skeleton Earmolds
- What it’s like: a lightweight ring outline that rests in the bowl of the ear, offering stability with less bulk and a discreet appearance
- Who it’s for: mild to moderate, and even severe, hearing loss
Canal Lock/Mold
- What it’s like: a smaller style that fits snugly entirely within the ear canal, offering a minimal visual profile
- Who it’s for: mild to severe hearing loss
Hearing Aid Mold Colors
How to Clean a Hearing Aid Earmold
Proper maintenance preserves your hearing aids' performance and extends their lifespan. Here’s how to clean a hearing aid earmold safely:
- Daily Wipe Down. Take out your hearing aids and wipe down the exterior surface with a clean, dry cloth.
- Clear Debris. Use a wax pick or small cleaning brush to remove earwax and other build-up that can naturally accumulate.
Learn more about how to clean your hearing aid tubing.
Hearing Aid Earmold Replacement and Maintenance
Hearing aid earmold replacement is typically necessary every 1-3 years or as directed by your hearing health care provider.
It may be time for a replacement mold if you’re experiencing or seeing the following:
- Frequent whistling or feedback.
- A loose fit or you feel the mold sliding out of place.
- Physical cracking, stiffness, or discoloration of the mold.
- Soreness or discomfort in your ear canal.
Need to Retube an Earmold?
We put together everything you need to know about hearing aid tubing, including step-by-step instructions for retubing.
Do All Hearing Aids Require an Earmold?
Not at all! Ear molds are only used with Behind-the-Ear (BTE) or Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC) hearing aids. Anyone with a custom hearing aid (e.g., ITE, HS, ITC, CIC, or IIC hearing aids) doesn't use a separate ear mold. However, even most BTE or RIC hearing aids don’t require an earmold; more common is the use of hearing aid domes.
What will work best for you depends on your hearing profile and ear anatomy. Your hearing health care provider will help guide you on the right fit for you!
Learn more about the different types of hearing aids.
Good hearing matters
