Good fitting custom earmoulds and hearing protection, ITE and CIC hearing aids can only be created from accurate impressions. The key is having the confidence to know when you’ve inserted your otostop deep enough down the canal, and to point the otostop in the direction of the eardrum. A good, deep impression means getting to the 2nd bend of the ear canal. Some tell-tale signs that you’ve reached the 2nd bend include a characteristic slip of the otostop into position which often coincides with slight resistance as it enters the bony portion of the canal. When you look on otoscopy, you will see that the otostop is framed by the cartilaginous portion of the canal.
All ear canals are very different from one another and taking good impressions takes practice. Patient/client safety is paramount and the British Society of Audiology has a recommended procedure for impression-taking in adults/children over 5 years of age and for children under 5 years of age.
