How to Make an Ear Mold Impression
Ear impressions are used to make custom hearing aids, earplugs and musician's earphones. When impressions are taken properly these custom devices are very comfortable and do the job well.
The procedure is not that difficult but there are risks of ear damage and pain if done improperly.
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Things You'll Need
- Otoscope
- Otoblock
- Probe light
- Silicone ear impression material
- Ear impression syringe or ear impression gun
- Bite block
Instructions
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1
Position the patient in a chair so that you can easily access the ear, and instruct the patient that you will look in the ear with an otoscope.
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2
Visually check the ear canal for earwax, debris, blood, drainage or abnormality. Also visualize the eardrum for blood, earwax, perforation, a pressure equalization (PE) tube, or abnormality.
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3
Refer the patient to a physician if you observe any of the conditions noted in Step 2.
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4
Note the size, shape, angle and the direction of the ear canal at the first bend and at the second bend.
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5
Note the firmness of the patient's ear and ear canal. Use soft impression material with low viscosity if the ear or ear canal is very soft.
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6
Select the appropriate otoblock based upon your observations in Step 4. Make sure that the thread is securely attached to the otoblock.
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7
Instruct the patient that you will use a probe light to place an otoblock into the ear canal. Next explain that you will gently insert impression material into the ear using either a syringe or an impression gun and that you will remove the impression in five to 10 minutes
Advise the patient not to move while you insert the impression material into the ear. Let the patient know that the material will feel cool and that he may experience mild discomfort.
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8
Use the probe light to carefully insert the otoblock, taking care to gently position it just past the second bend of the ear canal.
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9
Thoroughly mix the impression material then put the mixture into the barrel of the syringe. Insert the plunger into the barrel and gently push the material until a small amount comes out of the tip of the nozzle. If you are using an impression gun, inject the material until a small amount comes out of the nozzle.
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10
Place the end of the nozzle into the entrance of the ear canal and slowly insert the impression material with steady pressure. Eventually the material will fill the ear canal all the way to the otoblock.
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11
Slowly move the tip to the bowl of the outer ear when the material starts to flow out past the nozzle,. Always keep the nozzle embedded in the impression material.
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12
Keep the nozzle in the center of the outer ear and continue to squirt the material out of the syringe or impression gun. The material will gradually fill the entire bowl of the ear.
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13
Wait five to 10 minutes to allow the silicone material to set. When the impression is ready to be removed it will feel rubbery.
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14
Grasp the impression with your thumb and forefinger when you are ready to remove it.
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15
Gently pull and rotate the impression toward the patient's nose as you remove it from the ear.
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16
Inspect the ear canal and the eardrum with the otoscope to make sure that no impression material remains and that the ear looks normal.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't try to take impressions yourself. It's a lot easier if someone else does it.
Use a bite block to keep the jaw open if the outer ear moves easily with jaw motion.
If you have any question about your ability to safely and accurately take an impression have an audiologist do it instead.
If the patient has had ear surgery, such as mastoidectomy, consult with his physician before taking an impression.
