At The Hill Hear Better Clinic, we believe it?s essential to keep up with the latest in hearing care technology. And sometimes that yields exciting results for both our doctors and patients! We?re thrilled to introduce you to Otoscan ?, our new 3D ear scanning device from Natus. This piece of revolutionary equipment can take an impression of your ear with more accuracy, safety, and comfort than ever before. We?ll explain how it works and why it matters to you.
Out With the Old
Taking an earmold impression is an important step in the process of fitting you for a hearing aid. An impression helps us keep accurate measurements of the shape of your ear. When you choose the kind of hearing aid that works best for you, we send the impression to the manufacturer to make a fitting that?s custom tailored to your exact measurements. A perfect fit improves the effectiveness of the hearing aid and helps you hear better. We also use earmold impressions to create things like swim plugs and custom in-ear monitors for musicians.
Generally, earmold impressions are taken using a substance that fills your ear and hardens, creating a physical model of your ear. A number of materials have been used in the past, but today most hearing care providers use silicone. As you might expect, this can occasionally be slightly uncomfortable. On top of that, injected silicone can stretch soft spots in your ear as it dries, potentially leading to an inaccurate impression and an uncomfortable fit.
In With the New
With Otoscan, physical earmold impressions are a thing of the past. With this scanning device, we can generate an accurate 3D model of your ear without taking an impression. This process is completely safe – not to mention easier, faster, and far more comfortable! So how does it work?
When we start the scanning process with a patient, we first place a special headband over their head that acts as a reference point for Otoscan. Next, we insert a tiny scanner into the ear canal. The scanner begins building a digital model of the ear canal. You?ll be able to watch the process on a computer screen, while your audiologist watches it on the handheld screen attached to the scanner. This screen is also equipped with a depth gauge telling us when we?ve reached the desired point inside your ear, all without actually touching your ear!
When the model of the ear canal is complete, we move on to the outer ear. Otoscan uses a laser to accurately map the flat surfaces and curves that make up your ear. In just a few minutes, we?ll have a complete model of your ear. If we see any gaps in the model, we fill them in with a quick scan.
Faster, Safer, More Accurate
With Otoscan, The Hill Hear Better Clinic is entering the future of hearing care. 3D models are significantly easier and safer to create, making your hearing evaluation both more efficient and more comfortable.
To have a custom-fitted hearing aid made from an earmold impression, we have to ship that mold to the manufacturer. The manufacturer then has to use the physical mold to make the hearing aid. This process takes time – but it takes much less time when we use a digital model!
Using Otoscan, we can send the model directly to the manufacturer, who can start crafting your customized hearing aid right away. That means you can expect to receive your new hearing aids and start hearing better, sooner.
The Hill Hear Better Clinic is dedicated to providing the best hearing care possible. Getting the latest technology into the hands of our experienced professionals is one way we accomplish that. Our new Otoscan equipment is the latest innovation in audiology that we?ve added to our clinic. Want to see the difference it can make for you? Book your hearing evaluation at The Hill Hear Better Clinic today!?
