Earmolds for Everyone
At the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids, we make custom earmolds for MP3 players and cell phones to ensure comfortable listening and hands-free use.
Earplugs and In-Ear Monitors for Musicians and Broadcasters
The Musicians' Hearing Center can create custom earplugs that meet the needs of musicians. You will need to schedule a hearing test prior to obtaining musicians' earplugs.
At the Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids, we make custom earmolds for professionals who wear in-ear monitors over an extended time or need them to perform their jobs, such as:
- Musicians
- Radio broadcasters
- News anchors
Custom fit in-ear monitors provide hearing protection, as well as comfort and excellent sound quality. For musicians, the in-ear monitor evaluation provides tuning specifications for sound engineers controlling the monitors.
If you already own the monitor receiver, you can plug the custom earmolds in to it. If you are just considering in-ear monitors, the center can provide the monitor receiver as well as the custom earmolds.
In-ear monitors for use with non-custom insert earphone tips also are available.
Earmolds and Amplified Stethoscopes for Medical Professionals
The center can make special earmolds:
- For anesthesiologists who are connected to listening devices.
- For anyone who uses a stethoscope and desires a more comfortable listening end.
- For medical professionals who wear hearing aids to allow the stethoscope to rest in the earmold and pass sound through to the ear canal.
Health care professionals with hearing loss may need an amplified signal from their stethoscope.
The Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids provides amplified stethoscopes that individuals can:
- Use with their open ear.
- Slip into specially designed earmolds.
- Plug into behind-the-ear hearing aids.
Earplugs to Block Noise
Industrial hearing protection
Some people working in certain professions are subjected to very loud on-the-job sounds that are often loud enough to damage their hearing.
At the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids, we custom-make industrial hearing earmolds using very flexible material. This allows you to wear them comfortably for a number of hours, offering an effective defense throughout the work day.
Our custom industrial hearing earmolds are available in many colors.
Hunting/shooting
The center can specially design earmolds that allow you to communicate with those around you, but still offer protection against the loud sound of gunfire. We accomplish this by by inserting a filter into the earmolds.
We also make hearing protectors for hunters — available in a variety of colors — that amplify very quiet sounds while protecting the ear from loud sounds.
Sports
Football players and others who find themselves playing in noisy arenas (especially domes) can use custom earmolds for reducing the overwhelming noise.
In some sports, sound plugs inside the helmet allow the player to hear the coach. Both hearing and hearing-impaired individuals can use these sound plugs when they need voice contact and the particular sport's rules allow this type of device.
Swim Plugs
Adults and children can use swim plugs to prevent water from entering the ear.
At the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids, these custom-made products are available:
- In numerous colors — including glitter, glow in the dark, or swirls.
- With handles for insertion and removal.
- With a string attaching the plugs together.
- In a floating material, in case you drop them into the water.
