So I’m in the process of upgrading my hearing aids. I saw the audiologist the other day and he recommended the Infinio spheres. My insurance covers them so I decided to go for it. Then he called me back and said that phonak says you have to use an ear mold instead of a dome. I don’t see any reviews or demos showing a mold. Everybody’s using a dome. I had another hearing professional tell me that Phonak recommends you not use an ear mold, but rather a vented dome. Phonak won’t talk to you unless you are hearing professional. Can anybody clear this up for me?
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Seeing your audiogram would really help (Top of page, click on FORUM and then My hearing tests) If you have a loss that requires an UP receiver it definitely requires a mold. (That’s the only way to get an UP receiver) Otherwise it might be recommended, but it shouldn’t be required.
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That is exactly what my audi told me when the Phonak Spheres first came out. She knows that - for whatever reason! - I’m HIGHLY allergic to any kind of custom mold material other than the shiny, plastic, flesh-colored ones. I can’t wear any kind of acrylic or the firm silicon molds. However, I’ve never had problems with the smoke topaz colored soft silicone double (power) domes, and they work great with my Phonak Lumity Life 312-battery aids.
I totally GET that the optimal solution for a powerful aid like the Sphere is that custom mold, but my ear canals would be flaming, itching lobster claws by day’s end. So just tell your audi recommendation or not, you want to try the silicone mold. The worse that could happen is that you may end up pushing them IN your ear canals all day long (like pushing eyeglasses up the nose).
You may surprise yourself and your audi if these double domes do the trick for you! Look at my audiogram. If I can wear power domes with the Lumity Life, you could probably wear them with the new Spheres. GO FOR IT!
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I have moderate hearing loss. 49 in one ear 51 and the other. Most difficulty is with lower frequency.
Not quite sure what you mean by a loss of 49 in one ear and 51 in another. If that’s the PTA (pure tone average) with most of the loss in lower frequencies you might need UP receivers and custom molds. The audiogram provides a lot more information.
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I was told I’m 49% deaf in one ear and 51% in the other.
Phonak also offers titanium molds. They’re supposed to be the ultimate solution for ear canal irritation by mold materials. Here is a link to the latest Phonak Custom Product Reference Guide: Custom Product Reference Guide (New!)
Titanium molds are supposed to be the ultimate in durability, too, but, IIRC, they are more expensive and take longer to make based on other forum posts.
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That’s what he said he was ordering. I was really taken aback when he said titanium. I always thought that the material used for molds was silicone or acrylic. In fact when I googled what they were made of that’s the only thing that came up was acrylic and silicone.
My titanium slimtips came in a couple weeks a few years ago. And we didn’t even use the new digital scanning. So part of that time was sending the impressions to the factory. They are 3D printed. I heard in Vietnam, but that was a few years ago, maybe they make them in the US now.
WH
How was that determined?
Well that = 100%… 
THIS illustration speaks to me BIGGLY!
I have soft silicone double domes on my speakers and EVERY day those matchsticks are rammed against my ear canal. I totally get the illustration. With a custom mold, that speaker is forced into the optimal (hopefully comfortable) position.
My issue with any hardshell mold is that my ears swell UP and go DOWN throughout the day, so I’d start each day with a painful insertion (ouch.) and end with some baggy leaky-squeaky feedback. Allergic reaction may not happen with titanium, but I’ve shied away from going this route due to the cost + fit issue.
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I have the Spheres with a closed dome and have been wearing them approximately 3 weeks now. I’m curious if anyone can tell me what an approximate cost would be for silicone and for titanium custom molds. I may discuss with my audiologist at my 6 month checkup.
My hard acrylic molds for my phonaks were $150 from an audiology practice.
I think $100 per mold ($200 per pair) is a good guess. Might get them for less or maybe a little more. Not sure about titanium.
I’m having acrylic Phonak cShells made. They’re also available in titanium. Since cShells have to be sent back to Phonak to have the receivers replaced, I’ve ordered them with new M receivers, saving my current receivers to wear with power domes if one of the cShells has to be sent back to Phonak for some reason.
It ain’t cheap. My audi quoted me a price of $199 per cShell with a new M receiver. Hopefully, I’ll enjoy all the benefits of cShells as described in the Phonak Custom Product Reference Guide. The following link, if the Discourse website software does not edit it, contains a link to page 18 of the two-page browser view of the guide, where the pros and cons of Phonak Slim Tips vs. cShells are discussed:
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Do you have them without a vent as in your former Resounds?
And are they as long as the latter (16/4 mm rule) so they reach the bony part of tour ear canal?
Yes, I asked that they be made with no vent.
On the 16/4 mm rule, I left it to my audiologist and Phonak to come up with the best earmold possible given my impressions. I’m very happy with the Sphere sound using power domes, so I have that as a reference standard to compare to my cShell performance. If the cShells don’t sound as good, I’ll suggest revisiting receiver placement, depth in the canal, etc. I suspect from a discussion with my audi about wire length that the wire connection points for the receiver will be just at the openings of my ear canals. She said I have relatively open straight ear canals compared to most people. My right ear canal looked perfectly straight. My left has a slight bend in it. If she did it right, she put the end cushions for the impressions within a few mm of each eardrum.
ChatGPT summary of 16/4 rule:
The 16/4 mm rule for hearing aids refers to guidance for the depth at which hearing aids or earmolds should penetrate into the ear canal to ensure optimal acoustic performance and comfort. Specifically:
- 16 mm depth: This is the approximate distance from the ear canal opening to the second bend of the ear canal in an adult. Reaching this depth allows the hearing aid or earmold to position its sound outlet close to the eardrum. This positioning minimizes unwanted acoustic effects such as:
- Standing waves or resonances in the canal.
- Feedback issues.
- Distortion in high-frequency amplification.
- 4 mm proximity: The sound outlet or vent opening should ideally be positioned about 4 mm away from the eardrum to ensure the best sound delivery without causing discomfort or occlusion effects. This distance provides sufficient clearance to:
- Avoid irritation or pressure on the sensitive eardrum.
- Allow for natural ear canal dynamics, such as movement when chewing or talking.
Importance of the 16/4 mm Rule
- Acoustic Benefits: By achieving proper depth and proximity, the hearing aid can deliver clearer sound and better amplification in higher frequencies, which are crucial for speech clarity.
- Comfort: Proper depth reduces the sensation of occlusion (blockage) and ensures the hearing aid remains securely and comfortably in place.
- Ventilation: Adequate venting design, when combined with this rule, can also help reduce the “plugged-up” sensation some users experience.
Practical Application
The 16/4 mm rule is a guideline rather than a strict requirement, as individual ear anatomy can vary significantly. Professionals use otoscopy, earmold impressions, and computer modeling (in digital earmold design) to tailor the depth and placement for each user.
If you’re considering a custom earmold or hearing aid fitting, it’s important to discuss these details with your audiologist to optimize both acoustic performance and comfort.
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I will be very interested about your outcomes with earmolds;)
I was told that in order to have the active vent feature with the Spheres, you have to have an ear mold. The cost for the hearing aids with the ear mold was $2,299 each. I have an ear mold. Just got mine two days ago. I don’t like the earmold. Maybe I just need to get used to it, but I don’t like having something that completely eliminates outside noise. It’s like wearing earbuds all the time, and I don’t like that. I went from little tiny domes to titanium molds, which is like sticking my fingers in my ears. I don’t like the feel of it. I don’t like how things sound. But I was told that there was no choice if I want the active vent feature. Is this true?