Audiology

Ear Impressions

Custom-made ear moulds are the ultimate in comfort and fit. Before you can obtain the finished item, it is totally necessary to get impressions done of your ears, this procedure should be carried out by a qualified Audiologist alternatively Enhanced Listening can do it or at least help you to arrange an appointment with the correct organisation.

Having your ear impressions done is a painless and fairly quick procedure but should only be carried out by a qualified professional. Firstly your ears will be fully examined, this is done to make sure the ear canal is clear of cerumen (ear wax) and the inner ear looks healthy, allowing us to carry out the procedure. A small foam block is placed in the ear canal to act as a seal to stop the silicon at a certain point on the journey into the ear canal. The impression can only now be taken by injecting a two-part silicon material into the ear with a special syringe. The Silicon is left in the ear to cure for around five minutes and then removed. Once the impression has been taken and we are satisfied that the mould will produce a high quality custom fit, they will then be sent and processed in our laboratory where the final product will be manufactured.

It is highly recommended that only a qualified technician carries out this procedure; it is very important that the ear is examined thoroughly to establish that it is healthy and that there is not a build up of cerumen (ear wax). Impressions cannot be taken from an infected ear as the process may aggravate the infection and the impression is unlikely to be accurate. If you have a perforated ear drum or have had ear surgery it is essential that you consult with an Audiologist before you have any ear impressions taken. If there is any doubt about the ear itself not being totally healthy then we are obliged not to carry on with the procedure.

Enhanced Listening are fully trained and certified to carry out any Ear-mould procedures and will be pleased to invite you to our premises or carry out the work. Please call or e mail us to book any appointment or speak about any queries you may have.

The Ear Mould procedure is carried free of charge at our premises, if you commit to buying any custom made product  from Enhanced Listening, please call if you require further details or we can arrange appiontments locally to you at an extra charge.

Custom Made Ear Pieces for earphones and In Ear Monitors FAQ

Custom-fit earpieces are the preferred option for professional users giving superior audio performance and comfort as well as excluding ambient noise sources. All Enhanced Listening's in-ear products can be made up as custom fit; all we need is an impression of your ear(s).

What is the best material for Earphone moulds: hard acrylic or soft silicon?

This is nothing more than personal preference. We use a very special grade of translucent soft-silicon which is strong, non-sticky and very smooth to touch and extremely comfortable.

Do I have to have units’ custom fitted?

To gain the maximum occlusion (blocking of ambient noise) we highly recommend this. Having custom fitted earpieces is a considerably more comfortable and they can exclude up to 30dB of ambient noise which means that you can listen to audio signals at a much lower level and the perceived sound quality is superior with an improved bass and high end response.

How much ambient noise will custom fit units exclude?

Assume 25 - 30dB but this will vary slightly with different models

What is a generic Ear mould?

It is a one-size-fits-most as a general rule and we offer a low-cost soft silicon pair designed with a profile that does a superb job of holding buds into ears! If the unit is to be used on a daily basis we highly recommend a custom fit unit, the benefits are considerable.

Where do I get ear impressions taken?

You can come to us, look through Yellow Pages or other on-line directories for Hearing Aids. This will direct you to a clinic that will understand how to take impressions. It is worth calling a few as the prices they charge can vary widely. We can also arrange appiontments locally for you at an extra cost.

Are there any solutions if I have hearing loss?

We have helped many individuals who have suffered hearing loss, usually through years of exposure to high sound levels. We can certainly help balance you up and get you communicating again. Our resident Audiologist can give you some advice to address any concerns.

Will the earpieces damage my ears?

Physically no, but if you have the volume level too high then this can happen as it can with any type of headphone. With custom fitted earpieces, shielding you from external noise there is really no need to listen to audio at excessively high levels.

Why should I choose Enhanced Listening products?

Enhanced Listening have sourced equipment from suppliers who have been making in-ear driver type products for a long time and are very familiar with the types of use professionals need for effective communication and monitoring.

Will I be able to hear ambient noise?

You will certainly hear some of the low frequencies, but the high frequencies will be attenuated. If it is desirable to have a controlled bleed of ambient noise, we can introduce a calibrated filter – this will maintain the benefits of having your ear occluded but will add some special outside awareness.

Will having the impression taken hurt?

No you will just experience absolute silence for about 10 minutes while the impression material cures. Enjoy the experience!

If you require any further help or uncertainties answered please call use on 0208-639-4440 or E-mail info@enhancedlistening.co.uk.

New Service.

Now available, order on-line your custom ear impressions. Just add to your shopping basket the option 'Custom Ear impressions'. Once we receive the order we will call you within 2 working days to  arrange for you to attend an appiontment at a leading firm of Audiologists based locally to you, they will take the impressions and return them to us to be made into a custom earplug or ear-mould for an earphone of your choice. We can also arrange for home or work  visits POA.