User:Seanhov/Earmold

Earmold Viscosity- The texture of the earmold can have low, medium, or high viscosity. The lower type of viscosity will be soft while the higher viscosity is firm. It is thought that a higher viscosity will lead to a better impression of the ear canal while the lower viscosity may not fill in the ear canal as well. The type of viscosity to use is dependent on the person using the material and the type of viscosity they are most comfortable with. Once the type of viscosity is chosen the person can then choose to use a pistol or syringe for pushing the earmold material in the ear. The syringes need the material mixed together until it is a singular color and then it can be pushed through the tube of the syringe. The plunger of the syringe will then be used to push the material into the smaller area. The pistol uses pre-measured impression material and requires the person to press the trigger lever for the impression material to come out. With the impression material ready to use the clinician will want to put an otoblocker into the ear canal. This will help prevent material from reaching the tympanic membrane of the middle ear. For the otoblocker to be put in appropriately the clinician will want to pull up on the top of the pinna so the otoblocker can be put past the second bend of the ear canal. With the otoblocker in place the impression material can now be used to fill in the external ear canal and spaces and crevices of the outer ear.

With the impression material in place and set in the ear canal the clinician can decide what type of earmold material would benefit the patient the most. The three types of earmold materials include: acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, and silicone. Each type of material has positives and negatives about them, for instance, acrylic can help older patients with dexterity issues as the earmold is hard so insertion and removal of the earmold is easier or a silicone earmold which is soft and is extremely useful for children because of how pliable the material is.