Question
I am trying to locate some sort of soft earpieces or inserts for people who wear hearing aids while participating in sports. Do you know of anything on the market that would reduce the risk of injury from a mild blow to the ear? I hate my hard acrylic earpieces when I am playing ball!
Answer
Dear Sports Enthusiast!
Acquiring a soft earpiece for your hearing instrument should not be a problem.
The choice of the material will depend on the hearing aid style you use. If it is a custom in-the-ear hearing aid, the aid's shell can be made from a soft plastic such as vinyl, or medical grade silicone. If it is a behind-the-ear instrument, the earmold can be made from one of the above materials, and also from a soft acrylic or polyurethane foam.
It would be proper if you contacted your hearing health care professional to discuss the material that would be the best for you. While presenting you with the options, the professional will consider additional factors such as the type of your hearing loss, and your age. They can also recommend an earmold lab that would make the earpiece in the color of your jersey, or even make the mold with the team's logo.
You can find a hearing professional nearest to you at www.healthyhearing.com
Sincerely,
Chester Pirzanski, your on-line expert
CHESTER Z. PIRZANSKI, BSc.
Mr. Pirzanski, Process Engineer at Starkey Labs Canada Ltd. has extensive experience in analyzing hearing aid fitting problems. His research has led him to introduce new shell standards that measurably increased Laboratory productivity. Through research on impression techniques and materials Mr. Pirzanski developed an alternative impression taking method that has greatly increased impression accuracy and customer satisfaction with hearing instrument fittings. Chester Pirzanski obtained his degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the University of Mining and Metallurgy (AGH), Poland.
Click here to visit the Starkey website.
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