Starkey Custom Hearing Aid User Manual
- June 1, 2024
- Starkey
Table of Contents
Starkey Custom Hearing Aid
Specifications
- Product: Custom Hearing Aid Impression Kit
- Manufacturer: Ray Woodworth Center for Excellence, Starkey
- Recommended Otoblock Type: Medium Shore Silicone
- Curing Time: 5 to 8 minutes
Product Usage Instructions
Making an Impression
- Increase patient satisfaction and reduce returns by making quality ear impressions every time. Your professional expertise is critical when selecting the best solution for a patient.
Much more than meets the ear
- Consider various factors such as audiogram, dexterity, ear anatomy and history, and lifestyle when determining if a patient is a custom hearing aid candidate.
How to make an impression
Step 1: Examine the ear
- Use a video otoscope to examine the ear before starting the impression process.
Step 2: Insert the autoblock
- Choose the appropriate size and type of otoblock for the best impression outcome.
Step 3: Take the impression
- Use medium shore silicone for good definition and easy removal of the impression.
Step 4: Remove the impression
- Allow the impression to cure for 5 to 8 minutes before gently removing it from the ear.
Step 5: Evaluate the impression
- Ensure the impression is deep, without gaps or voids, to provide a complete picture of the patient’s ear.
FAQ
Q: What type of silicone is recommended for taking impressions?
A: Medium shore silicone is recommended as it offers good definition and easy removal.
Q: How long should I wait before removing the impression from the ear?
A: Wait for 5 to 8 minutes to allow the impression to cure properly before removal.
Making an Impression
A step-by-step guide
Increase patient satisfaction and reduce returns by making quality ear impressions every time.
Much more than meets the ear
- Your professional expertise is critical when selecting the best solution for a patient.
- Many factors and considerations come into play when determining if a patient is a custom hearing aid candidate, including:
Audiogram
- If their hearing thresholds are in a near-normal range, occlusion might be an issue.
- The patient may prefer an open-fit product like a RIC.
Dexterity
- Customs may be easier to put on and remove than a standard product, but can also be small with even smaller batteries.
- It’s a conversation to have with patients who have difficulty handling small objects.
Ear anatomy and history
- If the patient has narrow, curvy, or even extremely straight ear canals, a custom hearing aid may not be the appropriate solution for them.
- Patients who have recurrent ear infections and/or ear surgeries may not be good custom candidates either.
Lifestyle
- Does the patient wear glasses? Do they work in active environments? Is a noticeable hearing aid a deal breaker? Certain comfort, aesthetic, and occupational needs lend themselves better to custom devices.
- Ultimately, the patient has come to you to weigh all considerations—physical, audiological, and patient priorities—and recommend a solution that delivers both success and satisfaction.
Quality in quality out
- A superior custom product fitting starts with a high-quality ear impression. Making a perfect impression requires proper technique, attention to detail, and repetition.
- As custom hearing aid experts, we know a thing or two about making accurate, precision-tested impressions —and how good impressions can also be used to make earmolds, custom cases, hearing protection solutions, and more.
- This guide, developed with help from Starkey’s most experienced impression takers, shares best practice tips perfected from shooting thousands of impressions in our Center for Excellence.
- Scan the QR code or go to starkeypro.com for more education, including all our how-to videos.
How to make an impression
- STEP 1 Examine the ear
- The first thing you want to do is examine the ear, preferably with a video otoscope.
- Look for blockage or wax that might interfere.
- Check for abnormalities or growths.
- Get a good sense of the ear’s diameter.
- Ensure it’s clean before going any further.
- Pro tip: Your video otoscope is your best friend—an indispensable tool for ear cleanings, impressions, and even patient acceptance.
- STEP 2 Insert the autoblock
- The size and type of otoblock you use make a big difference in the outcome of your impression.
- Once placed, check your work by inspecting the perimeter of the otoblock with your otoscope to ensure there are no gaps.
- Pro tip: Positioning yourself level to the ear, lifting the pinna, and pulling the tragus forward all help make it easier to see what you’re doing.
- STEP 3 Take the impression
- Consider the shore of the silicone you use. In general, the medium is recommended as it allows for a good definition of landmarks and is pliable enough for easy removal.
- Insert the tip and leave it in for about three seconds until the silicone starts coming out around the end of the impression gun tip.
- Let the material flow and fill naturally keeping tip movement to a minimum.
- Make sure to fill the helix and go up the triangular fossa, regardless of the product or earmold style you are ordering.
- Pro tip: To help eliminate gaps, voids, and ridges, keep the tip of the gun buried in material as you slowly pull it out.
- STEP 4 Remove the impression
- Wait five to eight minutes for the impression to cure before removing it from each ear.
- Test the silicone with your fingernail to ensure it’s not wet.
- Break the vacuum seal before removal by gently pulling forward on the ear while asking the patient to make a chewing motion.
- Keep gently pulling on the ear while twisting the impression towards the nose.
- Grab the string simultaneously while pulling the impression out slowly.
- Pro tip: Don’t forget to look inside the ear one more time to ensure nothing is left over or injured.
- STEP 5 Evaluate the impression
- A good impression will be as deep as possible, have minimal gaps and voids, and give us as complete a picture as possible of the patient’s ear.
- Pro tip: Using a measuring tool may also help determine the right custom style for each patient.
- A good impression will be as deep as possible, have minimal gaps and voids, and give us as complete a picture as possible of the patient’s ear.
Bad impression
Poor technique doesn’t provide landmark identification
Good impression
Good technique ensures a smooth impression and clear landmarks
Scan the QR code to watch
Ray Woodworth and Dr. Dave Fabry walk through the steps of taking a quality ear impression.
An art worth mastering
Good impression-taking is an art that doesn’t just benefit your patients — it provides advantages for you, too.
Patient benefits:
- A tighter acoustic seal for better feedback cancellation
- A more discreet, better-fitting device
- Optimized sound direction
- Opportunity for more power and gain
- Improved comfort and satisfaction
Professional benefits:
- Differentiates you from online services
- Helps you address each patient uniquely
- Results in fewer remakes and returns
- Enables you to offer earmolds, custom-cased options, sound protection, and other specialty solutions
- The Starkey logo is a trademark of Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
- ©2024 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2/24 P00004443 BKLT3213-00-EN-ST
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>