Hearing FAQs for Consumers

Okay. So you've found the earpiece or earplug that you think will best address your needs. Now what? Well, ordering is as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Visit a Hearing Care Professional

Westone custom products for the ear are distributed via our worldwide network of hearing care providers. These providers include audiologists and hearing instrument dispensers. They can review your situation and needs and confirm your choice, or recommend an alternate style. They will then check your ears and make impressions of them.

2. Your Hearing Care Professional will send us your impressions

We'll use your impressions as models in the custom fabrication process.

3. We send the finished earpieces to your Hearing Care Professional

They'll check the fit and advise you on insertion and removal techniques as well as proper care for your new earpieces or earplugs.

How long does it take to get custom earpieces made?

Once your hearing care professional has taken impressions of your ears, you can generally expect a turnaround time of approximately two weeks on the finished earpieces. Rush service is also available upon request (additional charges will apply).

What colors are available for my custom earplugs or earpieces?

Westone offers a wide variety of earpiece colors and combinations of colors. (Click here for the complete color guide.) Please note that many colors and options are material dependent. You should always check with your hearing care professional to find out which earpiece material would best suit your application. They can then review with you which colors are available for the specific material chosen.

The answer to this question really depends on the age of the child. From the age of zero to eighteen months, earpieces or swimplugs may have to be redone every one to three months because of rapid growth in this age group. For children up to six, a new earpiece every three to six months is not uncommon. Children over six and up to twelve can usually use earpieces for about a year and swimplugs for one season. The point to keep in mind is that the growth you see in the child will generally also alter the shape and size of the ear canal. Another factor to be considered for amplified earpieces is the degree of hearing loss. Generally, the greater the degree of hearing loss the more frequently the earpiece will have to be replaced to control feedback.

What colors are available for my child's earpiece?

Westone offers a wide variety of earpiece colors and combinations of colors. (Click here for the complete color guide.) Please note that many colors and options are material dependent. You should always check with your hearing healthcare professional to find out which earpiece material would best suit your child's application. They can then review with you which colors are available for the specific material chosen.

If you're getting a pair of AquaNot or Swyrl swimplugs, you can get a headstart on the color by checking out our AquaNot color guide.

How can I keep my child from losing his or her hearing instrument?

Westone Laboratories has over forty years experience in the hearing healthcare industry-long enough to know that it's tough to keep a kid attached to an expensive hearing instrument. Our Fun Oto-Clip collection can help. A lightweight lanyard attaches to the instrument and clips firmly to the child's clothing with a colorful character. Choose from Critter Clips, Dino Clips, Farm Clips and Sea Clips. There's a creature sure to fill the fancy of any child (and a lot of grown-ups, too!).

The best way to learn more about your situation is to consult an Authorized Westone Dispenser in your area. For general background, we have several good reference books available through our online store. Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids - A Bridge to Healing is a very good source for general information. Hear the Music specifically discusses hearing loss and protection for musicians and those who simply love music.

What if I have a question that isn't answered in this list?

Your local hearing care professional can probably answer just about any question you might have. However, if you like, feel free to send your question to Westone via e-mail. Between our knowledgeable customer service personnel, our technical service experts and our on-staff audiologists, we're certain to be able to answer whatever questions you may have.

With every custom fit earpiece that is delivered, Westone includes a small printed pamphlet called "Caring for your Custom Fit Products for the Ear." If you have misplaced your pamphlet, you may access the very same information by clicking here.

How can I get the best comfort, fit and seal for my earplugs or earpieces?

The original impression of your ear has the greatest impact on the final fit of your earpiece. Occasionally, modification of the earpiece and perhaps even a second impression for a remake is needed. You may also experience acoustic leaks and feedback due to jaw movement. Even a perfect earpiece cannot always address this issue. In those cases, we offer several products that can compensate for the changing shape of the canal. Otoferm creme and Oto-Ease can aid in both insertion of the earpiece and retaining a good acoustic seal. Comply Soft Wraps are small foam strips that wrap around the canal portion of the earpiece and fill gaps as they occur.

Do I need a moisture removal device?

Some moisture related problems are obvious, such as droplets visible in the tubing of BTE instrument. Most, however, are not so apparent because moisture molecules, not visible droplets, cause them. Here's why: the typical ear canal is a warm, humid environment. Add a little perspiration and the result is a lot of water vapor floating around inside the hearing instruments. When the ambient air temperature changes, such as when you enter an air-conditioned car or building, that water vapor condenses onto the sensitive microelectronics, including the receiver and the microphone. Condensation is an "equal opportunity" culprit, affecting users in hot, dry Arizona as well as those in the humid Midwest. Symptoms may range from sound distortion, intermittency, fuzziness, and faulty switches to total instrument failure. This can result in costly downtime and expensive repairs. The use of a desiccant drying system, such as Hearing Aid Saver or Dry & Store, will remove moisture, keep wax build up to a minimum, and can even prolong the life of the instrument.

Is it okay to leave the battery in my hearing instrument when putting it in a Hearing Aid Saver or other drying system?

Hearing instrument batteries are activated by exposure to air. When the battery tab is removed, moisture jumps into the battery along with the air. This combination of air and moisture, commonly known as humidity, is part of the chemical workings that power up the battery. But as a result, the batteries are very sensitive to climate- either too much or too little moisture can shorten battery life.

With this in mind, in high humidity areas, or for persons with very active lifestyles (read: sweaty ears), leaving the batteries in the instrument while left overnight in a dehumidifier can actually prolong their life by removing the excess moisture. But in the absence of those conditions, the dehumidifier may remove the needed moisture and decrease battery life. Fortunately, evidence suggests that any decrease should be fairly minimal.

We now suggest that it is okay to leave batteries the hearing instrument when in any form of moisture removing device (passive or active). It may very well prolong the battery life, and if not, any loss should be relatively minor. For many users, the benefit of not having to hassle with battery removal (particularly a problem for those afflicted with arthritis) should more than offset the potential loss.

Which Westone earpiece will work with a precordial stethoscope?

The Style No. 1 receiver type earpiece with a metal adaptascope and typically, 3 feet of "scope" tubing will be compatible with a precordial stethoscope.

Will TV EARS work with my TV?

TV EARS will work on any TV regardless of age or manufacturer. If your TV is not equipped with an "AUDIO OUT" plug, a speaker microphone is included with every unit. TV EARS will not be affected by or interfere with cable, satellite or broadcast reception, and is compatible with VCRs, DVDs and Internet TV. Complete instructions are included and installation is quick and easy.

Can I use TV EARS anywhere else besides home?

Standard model TV EARS operate with the same technology and at the same frequency as many public facilities such as theatres, playhouses and places of worship. Once it has been confirmed that the facility is similarly equipped, all you need to do is bring your fully charged TV EARS headset with you to the facility and turn it on.

There are many benefits to using a custom earplug over a generic fit product. Since custom earplugs are made from impressions of the user's ears, they fit perfectly and the comfort level is unparalleled. These earplugs are user friendly, making for fast and easy insertion. If the earplug isn't properly seated in the ear, the user will know immediately because it won't feel right. In fact, because they exactly match the user's ears, it is nearly impossible to wear custom earplugs incorrectly. Custom earplugs can even be colored in such a way that a supervisor in industrial situations can tell at a glance if employees are wearing them. Custom earplugs are also more sanitary since dirty fingers can position them into the ears without touching the canal portion of the earplug. The earplugs can even be washed or sterilized. Training employees to insert, care for, and test custom earplugs for accuracy is minimal. They are also quite cost effective, with the average life of an earplug in soft material twenty-two months and even longer in acrylic material. Custom earplugs are compatible with 99% of ear sizes and shapes.

Is there a difference between earplugs for hunters and earplugs for shooters?

Hearing protection earplugs have become very specialized based on the application. For target shooting, we recommend maximum protection through solid earplugs (Westone Style No. 40), perhaps even coupled with earmuffs. For hunting, because you need to be able to hear movement in the brush and the location of your companions, you will probably prefer a filtered earplug that only shuts down as noise reaches a certain level such as the discharge of a firearm (Westone Style No. 39).

Specific earmolds and earplugs styles can be viewed here.

How do I know if my hearing is in danger?

Although we don't think about it too much, our body actually sends us lots of signals to let us know when we're in danger. We feel the heat as we get burned; we feel the ache in muscles that are being overworked; we can't keep our eyes open when we're in need of rest. Our hearing is no different. If you've ever been to a concert or the races or out target shooting and had ringing in your ears afterward, that's your body's way of letting you know your hearing is at risk. If you still have ringing the next day, you could be in big trouble. If you continue putting yourself in loud noise situations without adequate hearing protection, it is no longer a question of whether you'll suffer permanent hearing loss, but how soon.

I'm a chair-side dental assistant. Will I still be able to communicate with the dentist during the procedure if I'm wearing hearing protection?

Certainly! For dental applications, we recommend the Westone Style No. 49 earplugs with 15 dB filters. This lowers the overall noise level that reaches your ears (by roughly 15 dB) but still allows normal conversation. If you lose your filters or they become damaged, additional 15 dB filters can be purchased from our online store.

Just like any of our other custom earpieces, AquaNot and Swyrl swim plugs are available only through our world-wide network of hearing healthcare providers. These providers include audiologists and hearing instrument dispensers. They will check your ears and make impressions of them. The impressions will then be sent to us to use as models in the custom fabrication process. The finished product will be sent to the hearing healthcare provider who will check the fit and advise you on insertion and removal techniques as well as proper care for your swim plugs.

Want to get a headstart on the colors for your AquaNot or Swyrl? Click here to check out our AquaNot color guide.

What happens if I drop my swim plugs in the swimming pool?

Not a problem!AquaNot and Swyrlswim plugs are made from floatable American made silicone. That way, if they get loose in the pool, you can still find them easily. (Although you'll have to use your fingers to plug your ears as you jump in to retrieve them!)

What are my color options for AquaNot swim plugs?

AquaNot swim plugs are available in 13 great colors: blue, pink, green, forest green, yellow, orange, purple, red, beige, brown, gray, black and white.

Click here to view our AquaNot Color Guide to get a close approximation of our AquaNot colors.

What's the difference between an AquaNot swim plug and a Swyrl swim plug?

AquaNot and Swyrl swim plugs are both made from the same high quality American made floatable silicone material. Both will provide you the ultimate in fit, comfort, water resistance and noise suppression. AquaNots are single color swim plugs. By selecting Swyrls, you can choose up to 3 excitingcolorsto be swyrled together for a dazzling look to your swim plugs.