18th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 3-5, 2019 • Chicago, IL
10/23/2016 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Operating a Field-Based Earmold Lab | Speech and Language Pathology Laboratory, Ground Floor, Benavidez Building, University of Santo Tomas
Operating a Field-Based Earmold Lab
One critical component of successful and sustainable community based ear and hearing care services, in a low-income and middle-income country, is prompt provision of earmolds for dispensed hearing aids. Though earmold laboratories can ensure success, the time to train earmold producers and the resources required for production, can be very time-intensive and cost-prohibitive. However, when costs are abated, the earmold lab can become a serendipitous cottage-industry opportunity in a region that will benefit from a fiscal boost.
This workshop describes the process for earmold production. The model created by the charity, Ears, Inc., has been used effectively in many parts of the world and has enhanced local economy with much needed cottage-industry skills. The workshop provides information for production materials and suggests the infra-structure for establishing the earmold lab. Also presented are recommended training procedures for the local program partners.
- Resourcing an Earmold Lab in the field
- Materials and Safe Practices in Impression taking
- Make an earmold
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Presenters/Authors
David Pither
(), Ears Inc, david@earsinc.org;
I have been custom making earmolds since 1976, repairing hearing aids, some manufacture of custom hearing aids and primarily audiometry and dispensing of hearing aids. Since 1989 undertaking trips to developing countries establishing earmold labs and clinics. In 1997 founding Ears Inc, a registered charity which is “dedicated to reducing the incidence and impact of hearing impairment through training and equipping local individuals and agencies in developing countries”.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -