Styles

Occluding Earmolds -

Standard: This is also known as a "Receiver" mold and is used with snap-in receivers for body aids and where extreme feedback is a problem. Cosmetics are not an issue in these cases, because the loss is often profound and the mold usually fills the entire concha and tragus area by necessity. Some types of headset applications such as those used by pilots, and other communications devices also use this type of earmold. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.

Shell: The shell mold is used with ear level (BTE) aids with a broad fitting range covering moderate to profound hearing losses. A tragus lip may be added at no additional charge in order to maximize feedback control when matched with very high gain instruments. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.

Half Shell: Similar to the shell, but with the upper half of the concha (triangular fossa) removed for comfort and ease of insertion where there may be dexterity issues. The fitting range is for moderate to severe hearing losses. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.

Skeleton: This is a popular application where an inconspicuous mold is desired. It effectively provides a good seal while allowing the concha to be relatively open for greater airflow in the bowl of the ear. The fitting range is for mild to severe hearing losses. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.

Semi Skeleton: Where there is little or no retention due to a sloping or disappearing concha, this style is ideal. It provides adequate retention where losses range from mild to severe and is similar in structure to the skeleton, but without a full rim, which might otherwise stick out of the concha. This style is available in all EMSEE materials except Ultraflex and Silicone II.

Semi Canal: Only the lower half of the concha rim is retained to keep the mold in proper position. This tail can be used to assist in removal and is aesthetically one of the most popular earmold styles. The fitting range is for mild to severe losses. Semi Canals are available in all EMSEE materials except Ultraflex and Silicone II.

Canal Tip: The helix and concha portions of this style are totally removed, leaving only the portion of the mold from the primary seal inward. If the canal is well defined, a canal tip may be used with a fitting range from mild to severe losses. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.

Emsee Open Fit Molds -

Open fit hearing aids are becoming more and more popular in the industry and are also gaining wider acceptance with the general public. As sales volumes of these instruments increase, there will be a greater number of cases where the stock silicone domes currently being supplied by the various manufacturers, will not adequately meet your clients' needs, in terms of both comfort and proper fit. In order to achieve the greatest benefit from these hearing aids, the tube or receiver wire must be properly positioned in the ear canal.

At Emsee Labs, we have developed a series of earmold styles called the "Hollow Canal", in order to assist the Hearing Instrument Specialist and Audiologist when dealing with a wide range of associated difficult fit situations. The open fit instruments normally have a maximum gain of only about 20dB - 25 dB, so proper positioning of the tube or receiver wire becomes critically important. Our products are intended to minimize the amount of occlusion normally caused by a conventional earmold or I.T.E. fitting, while maximizing the comfort of a custom made mold. By opening the ear canal, we are also allowing the outer ear to perform its normal function; allowing sounds to resonate (amplify) as nature intended.

Ideally, the "Hollow Canal XO" style is the preferred choice, since it provides even less occlusion than the stock silicone domes supplied with the hearing aids! The result is that the brightest, clearest sound possible is being delivered directly to the eardrum, with minimal disturbance in the ear canal.

When minor feedback does occur, even after minimal gain reduction in the instrument itself, the "Hollow Canal Special" can still help provide a successful fit, because it marginally occludes the tip of the canal, depending upon the vent size, which must be chosen by the hearing health care professional. The lab-installed vent can then easily be enlarged a small amount at a time in your office, in order to achieve the best possible result. The "Hollow Canal CT" is similar to the "Special", but the canal tips are colour coded in order to minimize any confusion about left and right side insertion.

For extremely difficult fit situations, any of these styles can be manufactured with a discreet canal lock in order to maximize retention in the ear. When ordering these molds, please check the "Hollow Canal" style on the order form and specify in the "Remarks" section whether you require the "XO", "Special", or the "CT" option. If you're fitting a "Thin Tube" model of hearing aid, please send the proper tube with the impression so that we can install it for you.

At Emsee, we are proud to be chosen by a number of the major manufacturers as their supplier of choice for custom made molds, which couples with their specific product line.

Non-Occluding Earmolds -

IROS: An IROS fitting, while not a truly non-occluding mold, has a very large vent that allows low frequency sounds to enter the ear canal unaided, while the high frequencies are amplified. This mold resembles a skeleton style and is usually made of an acrylic material such as Hard, Medicryl, or one of the PVC materials.

Regular CROS: The CROS family of molds is used with high frequency hearing losses, maskers, CROS and BICROS fittings, either as the working mold or as an anchor. Most often, the material of choice is an acrylic such as Hard or Medicryl; however, any of the three PVC materials can be used as well. The Regular CROS has a very small canal portion, used only to support bare tubing, which extends into the canal, allowing the maximum amount of unaided sound as well as the amplified sound to pass into the ear canal.

CROS #2: This style is similar to the Regular CROS except the bridge area between the canal portion and the triangular fossa is removed.

CROS #3: This style is similar to the Regular CROS except the canal portion, while thin, is extended to cover the entire length of tubing within the canal.

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	Standard: This is also known as a "Receiver" mold and is used with snap-in receivers for body aids and where extreme feedback is a problem. Cosmetics are not an issue in these cases, because the loss is often profound and the mold usually fills the entire concha and tragus area by necessity. Some types of headset applications such as those used by pilots, and other communications devices also use this type of earmold. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.
	Shell: The shell mold is used with ear level (BTE) aids with a broad fitting range covering moderate to profound hearing losses. A tragus lip may be added at no additional charge in order to maximize feedback control when matched with very high gain instruments. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.
	Half Shell: Similar to the shell, but with the upper half of the concha (triangular fossa) removed for comfort and ease of insertion where there may be dexterity issues. The fitting range is for moderate to severe hearing losses. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.
	Skeleton: This is a popular application where an inconspicuous mold is desired. It effectively provides a good seal while allowing the concha to be relatively open for greater airflow in the bowl of the ear. The fitting range is for mild to severe hearing losses. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.
	Semi Skeleton: Where there is little or no retention due to a sloping or disappearing concha, this style is ideal. It provides adequate retention where losses range from mild to severe and is similar in structure to the skeleton, but without a full rim, which might otherwise stick out of the concha. This style is available in all EMSEE materials except Ultraflex and Silicone II.
	Semi Canal: Only the lower half of the concha rim is retained to keep the mold in proper position. This tail can be used to assist in removal and is aesthetically one of the most popular earmold styles. The fitting range is for mild to severe losses. Semi Canals are available in all EMSEE materials except Ultraflex and Silicone II.
	Canal Tip: The helix and concha portions of this style are totally removed, leaving only the portion of the mold from the primary seal inward. If the canal is well defined, a canal tip may be used with a fitting range from mild to severe losses. This style is available in the full range of EMSEE materials.

	IROS: An IROS fitting, while not a truly non-occluding mold, has a very large vent that allows low frequency sounds to enter the ear canal unaided, while the high frequencies are amplified. This mold resembles a skeleton style and is usually made of an acrylic material such as Hard, Medicryl, or one of the PVC materials.
	Regular CROS: The CROS family of molds is used with high frequency hearing losses, maskers, CROS and BICROS fittings, either as the working mold or as an anchor. Most often, the material of choice is an acrylic such as Hard or Medicryl; however, any of the three PVC materials can be used as well. The Regular CROS has a very small canal portion, used only to support bare tubing, which extends into the canal, allowing the maximum amount of unaided sound as well as the amplified sound to pass into the ear canal.
	CROS #2: This style is similar to the Regular CROS except the bridge area between the canal portion and the triangular fossa is removed.
	CROS #3: This style is similar to the Regular CROS except the canal portion, while thin, is extended to cover the entire length of tubing within the canal.

	At Emsee Labs, we have developed a series of earmold styles called the "Hollow Canal", in order to assist the Hearing Instrument Specialist and Audiologist when dealing with a wide range of associated difficult fit situations. The open fit instruments normally have a maximum gain of only about 20dB - 25 dB, so proper positioning of the tube or receiver wire becomes critically important. Our products are intended to minimize the amount of occlusion normally caused by a conventional earmold or I.T.E. fitting, while maximizing the comfort of a custom made mold. By opening the ear canal, we are also allowing the outer ear to perform its normal function; allowing sounds to resonate (amplify) as nature intended.
	Ideally, the "Hollow Canal XO" style is the preferred choice, since it provides even less occlusion than the stock silicone domes supplied with the hearing aids! The result is that the brightest, clearest sound possible is being delivered directly to the eardrum, with minimal disturbance in the ear canal.
	When minor feedback does occur, even after minimal gain reduction in the instrument itself, the "Hollow Canal Special" can still help provide a successful fit, because it marginally occludes the tip of the canal, depending upon the vent size, which must be chosen by the hearing health care professional. The lab-installed vent can then easily be enlarged a small amount at a time in your office, in order to achieve the best possible result. The "Hollow Canal CT" is similar to the "Special", but the canal tips are colour coded in order to minimize any confusion about left and right side insertion.
	For extremely difficult fit situations, any of these styles can be manufactured with a discreet canal lock in order to maximize retention in the ear. When ordering these molds, please check the "Hollow Canal" style on the order form and specify in the "Remarks" section whether you require the "XO", "Special", or the "CT" option. If you're fitting a "Thin Tube" model of hearing aid, please send the proper tube with the impression so that we can install it for you.