That is true I did implement that in my profile now.
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They did give me pushback, but I brought all my medical records with me. At first they were like you donât need hearing aids your hearing is really good, but when he read all the documents he was like ok ya you need them. So yesterday I went back to Costco to get the molds and the dispenser person apologized to me stating that he was sorry for judging me. But I told him itâs ok.
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Sorry missed the other details. Tulip domes donât work for me they hurt my ears and they slip out a lot. The 2 type of domes that work for me are Phonaks Occluded or Vented and Starkeys comfort occluded bud. As for APD exercises that wonât help me much because of the other issues. I would have to tackle all at once. I do know how to fix the tensor tympani and stapedial myclonus issue I just donât have the money and health insurance wonât cover it, because the doctor is out of network for me. They told me they can go in and cut the muscles that are spasming. But going back to Costco they are going to make me a silicone mold I will tell them about the locks as I think those would be helpful. With the non custom molds I was wearing the retention tails and those work. Reason for the custom molds is I am trying to make them more occluded to block out sound. Hearing my own voice or the plug up feeling is fine for me.
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Just my opinion but I didnât like the Oticon Intent 1âs they didnât work for me, but Phonak Audeo Infinio I90âs sphere or non sphere and Signia BCT IX are really good. With Signia they combined both the chip of Signia and Widex.
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So with the Virtoâs you would be missing out on the vented receivers that you get with the RICâs.
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My audiologist has said that vented receivers would not be an option for me. My hearing loss is also complicated but different from yours. All of the fitting software says that I should be using 85db receivers but my audiologist ended up putting me on 105db receivers because of my mid range frequency loss. You see for dacades my low and high frequency response was well above the normal 0db range while my mid range frequencies were at a normal range. And my doctors and educators could not figure out why I had issues understanding speech. I was classified as having normal hearing. They never tested above 0db.
I couldnât spell because I could not pronounce words out. When I joined the Navy I could not do Morse code and was tested many times and declared normal hearing. It wasnât until I left the Navy that I was given a mustering out physical that my hearing loss was found, and only then I was told that I would need aids at some point in the future. I have worn aids for 20 years and only the last 5 or 6 years was my true issues realized.
I also want ITE aids because of wearing a motorcycle helmet.
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That is understandable. The Phonak Virtu I90s, I heard, is really good. I was interested in it as well, because itâs easier, but I thought the vented receiver was important. Itâs great that youâre pushing through. I will need to review it more.
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@Deadman42, although the post below concerns titanium ear molds (silicone ones would probably be better for you), there are some common rules, especially with the open-jaw technique:
Read and note about the necessity of obtaining a deep ear impression in order to create a deep-placed earmould and avoid the occlusion effect.
If you have APD with normal tonal audiogram, the coming NAL-NL3 fitting algoritm (used with REM) will be probably the best option for you.
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The Virto can have venting, but it might be limited in effective venting versus something like a hollow mold?
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Hi,
I wasnât the one that was getting titaniums. I am just getting just the silicone custom ear molds with the lock.
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Yes, I admitted that, but here are some rules which applies to ALL earmolds (silicone and acrylic also).
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Oh wow just read the open and close jaw impression. Ya the Costco person had me do a close jaw impression.
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It would be good to has two impressions:
- With mouth closed since silicone injection to its curation (no talking!!!)
- The mouth is opened with a bite block before the silicone is injected until its curation (no talking allowed!)
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Costco had ReSound (I think) make my acrylic molds with curved hooks about 1 CM long. I havenât had any problem with retention in over a year.
Just for the record, unless theyâve changed their policy, Costco will remake the molds at no extra charge if they donât fit.
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What is the thinking behind taking both open and closed jaw impressions? The mold lab then has both impressions to consider? Does the lab design the mold for both or just use the open jaw if more appropriate?
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Why not just work your jaw like you are chowing food and talking while the impression material is in your ear canals. It works great for me the ladt 20 years.
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Wouldnât it be hard to take a reliable and repeatable impression while moving the jaw? How soon do you start, how quickly does the impression cure, how much do you move your jaw, what is the patientâs ear anatomy, and many other factors might vary. It might work out ok for you but that doesnât mean it will work for others or that itâs best practices.
What do our pros here have to share about getting better impressions and open/closed/moving/combined impression methods?
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I donât know the exact time, but some where between I believe 5 and 10 minutes. I move my jaws like I am eating with my mouth closed. I will even talk to help it. I have done it this way for at least 8 times over the ladt 20 years. The key is comfortable fitting ear molds. If you donât move at all the usual results is your ears hurt. And the ear molds slip out of the ear canals. If you are getting soft ear molds it probably doesnât matter, but I have always gotten hard shell aids or ear molds. And if hard ear molds they can hurt like the devil if too tight.
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Yes, they are doing that with me on my custom ear molds.
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I have that problem with a mold for one ear (Phonak Naida Link M HA). I have an implant on the other ear. My audi ground a little off, which helps but I still have a sore spot. Iâll see her for a tuneup this week and hope she can grind a bit more off.
Hopefully, you can have an adjustment for comfort.