How are ear impressions made?

All custom made hearing aids and earmolds are made from a “cast” of the ear. The cast is referred to as an ear impression. The audiologist makes the ear impression in the office. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The audiologist places a special cotton or foam dam in the ear canal to protect the eardrum, and then a waxy material is placed in the ear canal. When the material hardens (about 5 to 10 minutes later) the wax cast, along with the dam are removed from the ear canal. Often, the ear canal will be “oily” after the impression is removed. This is normal. The oil comes from the wax material and prevents the wax material from sticking to the skin.

Tell the audiologist before the ear impression is obtained if you are allergic to plastic or dyes!