We often see questions come up on Social Media about painful ear pieces. It can be frustrating when you suffer from soreness, but we understand that not everyone wants to go straight to the audiologist for a “quick fix.” That’s why in this blog we offer first aid for sore ears and give you helpful tips to solve the most common earmold problems yourself.
Classic Earpieces: Acrylic and Silicone
Traditional earmolds are made of acrylic or silicone and have a regular tubing connected to the hearing aid. These earmolds contain no technology. Here are the three most common problems and how to solve them:
1. Snake too short
A common cause of pain is a tube that has become too short. This can happen because the tube shrinks due to body heat. When the tube becomes too short, it pulls up the earpiece, causing pain in the top of your auricle. You may not notice this right away, but over time it can lead to pain and even blisters.
Solution: replace the tubing on time. Ideally, you should do this once a month. You can order a meter of tubing from our online store, or stop by our audicien for help.
2. Twisted Snake
Sometimes the tube can get twisted when you insert the hearing aid. This can happen if the hearing aid is twisted several times before being placed behind the auricle. This not only causes poor hearing, but also painful auricles.
Solution: Make sure that the hearing aid is properly fitted to the earpiece. Then insert it correctly. If necessary, practice this with your hearing care professional or assistant. If it remains difficult, ask for an adjustment to the earmold.
3. Poor Fit
An earmold must fit perfectly to be comfortable. If the earmold is made from a poor impression or if it is too old, it can cause pain in your ear and ear canal. An earmold should be replaced every five years.
SOLUTION: Have your earmolds checked regularly by your hearing care professional and provide information about the structure of your auricle, such as whether it is hard or flexible. This helps the lab create a perfectly fitting earmold.
Summary
Although this blog focuses on painful ears caused by classic earpieces without technology, there are of course other earpieces, such as those with speakers, in-the-ear hearing aids and domes, that can cause problems. We will soon devote a separate blog to these variants.
If you suffer from sore ear pieces, try the tips above. And remember, you are always welcome to come to us to be personally helped by one of our audiologists.
Do you have questions or want to make an appointment? Feel free to contact us Contact up!
