I will be interested to hear how those ear molds work for you. Creating custom fit ear molds requires fitting skill similar to creating dental inlays. They have to be exact to be comfortable. There is no question in my mind that they are a better choice than the insertable domes that are so popular now with OTC and even with professionally fit hearing aids. Those domes do not require the skill needed to create custom ear molds. However, the advent of domes has made the OTC movement possible.

As stated in a different post, my hearing loss is profound so OTC products are not going to work for me. However, I know enough about them to realize that many of the OTC products available now are similar to the hearing instruments I was fit with back in the 1970s. In the early stages of progressive hearing loss those aids were helpful as they amplified speech I struggled to hear. They did not clarify it though. Today's more sophisticated products can be adjusted to help with clarification but in places where background noise is prevalent, they still function as 'aids' rather than solutions.

The key to hearing in noisy environments remains by using add on technology that brings the desired sound direct to a person's hearing instruments. Kind of like 'binoculars for the ears'. That is why BlueTooth and telecoils can make such a positive difference in settings where they work. It keeps getting better, but we are not there yet!

NOTE: I love using my 'mini mic' in social settings. Not perfect, but it helps a lot. It's best when it's close to the speaker I want to hear and that isn't always possible. Getting the desired sound close to the microphone is key. Obviously, this 'shows' when you use it. Unfortunately, that is a barrier to a lot of people who could benefit from this technology. It's time to stop pushing 'invisibility' and do more to promote better hearing. 🙂