#10

Hey MDB
you are Correct, Widex is not great with feedback management but you can’t beat their sound, so I’m sticking with them

#11

Hey CVKemp,
Skeleton molds? what’s that, I understand that widex offers their own custom molds and I don’t think they refer to skeleton molds…

#12

It is a reference to the way the ear molds are held in the ear.
My ear molds are semi skeleton

20240714_201129
20240714_2011291920×1440 244 KB

2 Likes
#13

Unique molds.
If they hold that’s a good thing.
Thanks for the picture.

2 Likes
#14

Hi Ive had 4 Custom Silicone Ear Molds fitted in Office and sent out to return in 2 Weeks.These Fit Resound and Signia and are made by Signia with Serial Numbers at a cost of $50.00 by HearUSA,a Humana Designated Provider,not a Co Pay as they dont cover Hearing Aid Molds but the nice thing is I can use them on my Resound Omnia rechargeable and Signia Charge and Go.

1 Like
#15

I have found Widex to feed back easier than other manufacturers, but it is somewhat suspicious that you are having issues with feedback more so than your previous Moments in particular, as the receivers are the same and it is largely just a different form factor. The microphones on the SmartRICs sit higher up though, so they may be more exposed from behind the pinna and therefore more open to feedback. I have not had any significant feedback issues unique to SmartRICs relative to mRIC/sRIC, but experimenting with retention tails would be my first try. Backing off on soft gain can also help with feedback.

3 Likes
#16

Hi PaulC,
Indeed Widex has complaints about feedback and these SmartRIC’s are no different. however they are far superior to my previous Moments (2020).
I had my Audi attempt to provide the same gain on my Moments as I was receiving on the Smart RIC’s and she could not come close, I kept saying to myself that the sound improvement on the Smart RIC’s was easily 20%-25% improvement, possibly it has something to do with the larger battery but the improvement justified my purchase. my question comes down to shelling out $300. for custom fit molds which I’m quite sure will be a bust because of the occlusion I’m certain to have. oh well nobody here can tell me.

1 Like
#17

People here have answered your questions including pros.
Maybe rereading the posts will help you.
Good luck

2 Likes
#18

They are very comfortable and don’t slip and i don’t have any feedback issues. But Oticon seems to be good at preventing feedback as long as the aids are set up correctly.

1 Like
#19

I did my best to answer your question. To be as honest as possible, it all comes down to how good your audiologist is and how well you explain your issues to your audiologist. And me not knowin Widex just how well the aids are designed to prevent the issue.

2 Likes
#20

Hey Raudrive,
apologies for my response “oh well nobody here can tell me”
It should have read nobody here can predict the degree of occlusion I may have

2 Likes
#21

I have had luck modifying closed domes for cases where feedback is an issue but the user is really sensitive to occlusion. Specifically, if I make transverse cuts in a tulip dome, it makes the dome form to the ear canal better, and it has helped to reduce bothersome occlusion while maintaining a seal for feedback prevention.

1 Like
#22

molds should improve your feedback issues for sure. For me, they’ve also improved sound quality. And of course they can be vented, which improves occlusion. For my right ear, I have No vent and have had no issues with occlusion–odd! but true. My left mold is vented–no occlusion that I ever really noticed. Even at the beginning. I’m lucky I guess, but my conductive loss OR the surgically reconstructed shape of my inner ears may account for this.

1 Like
#23

Your hearing loss is nothing like the OP’s. Very different needs acoustically.

2 Likes
#24

What’s the return option on the molds?

You’ll know pretty quickly whether occlusion is an issue. If you have small ear canals it sounds like it may be. That said, I live my life with constant mild occlusion from middle ear issues. Maybe you won’t care. Mostly I just can’t hear what anyone is saying when I’m eating crunchy things.

4 Likes
#25

and this is relevant…how? the OP expressed an interest in custom molds. I wear custom molds. I made a comment, emphasizing my very particular circumstances. for most, custom molds help with feedback. This is what the OP was enquiring about.

#26

Hey PaulC,
That is exactly what my Audi did: she cut transversely a few molds including Widex tulip mold and Otticons’ round Dome molds.
the results of those tests were:

  1. an insignificant reduction of feedback
  2. the form fit to my ears was so complete it felt like like custom molds without vents, and the occlusion was a bother.

I ended up using the uncut open round domes from widex.

The feedback occurs most often while sitting in my car seat. I pushed back the headrest which helped and I am accepting annoyance, but the feedback is there.
Also my Audi shortened the wire length which helped slightly but unfortunately the new tighter wire length doesn’t follow the track of the old wire and I miss the old ones.
I think I’ll spring for custom molds and a longer wire. My next appointment is scheduled for December but I just may the queue.
Thanks for your input

#27

Hi Neville,
The return info is:, Widex will change them up if fit, etc., is not right but no money back. The money won’t break me but I am sensitive to occlusion so it likely will be a waste
but
I’m convinced now I’ve got to jump the shark
Thanks.

#28

You gave the impression that custom molds would definitely help him, seemingly based on your experience. Our experiences will definitely differ based on a multitude of factors.

3 Likes
#29

Hi MDB,
My audiogram shows mild hearing loss in the upper Khz and so I do hear plenty with my natural hearing. My concern with Custom molds is that it would impede this natural hearing even if there is venting in the custom molds.
You said with respect to custom molds helping out “Our experiences will definitely differ based on a multitude of factors.”
Can you describe those factors?