Ear Mould
Pronunciation: EER mold
A custom-made acrylic or silicone shell fitted to the contours of an individual's ear canal and concha, used to couple a behind-the-ear hearing aid to the ear and to direct amplified sound into the ear canal.
Full Definition
An ear mould (also rendered 'earmold' in American English) is an individually fabricated device created from an impression of the patient's outer ear. It serves as the interface between a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid and the ear canal, ensuring a secure fit, directing amplified sound to the eardrum, and minimising acoustic feedback. Ear moulds may be made from hard acrylic, soft silicone, or hybrid materials, and can incorporate vents of varying diameters to modify the acoustic characteristics of the fitting. Editors should note the British spelling 'ear mould' (two words) versus the American 'earmold' (one word) and apply the appropriate variant according to house style. The term should not be confused with ear tips, which are pre-formed and used with receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices.
Usage
Usage note: British English: 'ear mould' (two words). American English: 'earmold' (one word). Apply the appropriate variant based on house style and target audience, and maintain consistency throughout the document. Do not confuse with silicone ear tips or domes used with RIC/RITE hearing aids.
In Context
- "The ear mould was remade after the child's audiologist noted acoustic feedback caused by poor retention in the growing ear canal." — Paediatric hearing aid fitting follow-up note
- "British English house style requires 'ear mould' as two words, whereas the American client's submission used the single-word form 'earmold' throughout." — Copyediting memo for international audiology publication