(101) Accessible Pediatric Earmolds: Eliminating Barriers for Families Without Coverage

Introduction: Traditional earmold fabrication relies on off-site silicone impressions, which can be costly and delay hearing aid provision in pediatric patients; digital ear scanning and 3D printing offer a non-invasive alternative that may reduce costs and speed delivery. This pilot quality-improvement project uses adult volunteers to evaluate in-house digital scanning and silicone earmold production, with the short-term goal of establishing a cost-effective, time-efficient, and child-friendly workflow.

Methods: Fifteen adult volunteers are being fitted with two custom earmolds per ear: one set via conventional silicone impression and reverse-mold processing, and one set via 3D ear scanning following emerging clinical protocols. Participants wear each type for one hour per day over one week in randomized order and complete quality surveys. A micro-costing analysis and timeline-efficiency analysis are also being conducted.

Results: Feasibility metrics include scan success rate, print and finishing time, need for remakes, and any complications. Participant-reported comfort and preferences between conventional and digital earmolds will be summarized and compared, alongside per-mold and per-patient costs. This data will guide protocol refinements before pediatric implementation.

Conclusions: Prior evidence suggests digital earmolds provide comparable fit and attenuation to conventional molds, with faster turnaround and lower costs. Findings from this pilot will inform a subsequent pediatric clinical trial aimed at reducing financial burden, improving comfort, and expanding access to custom earmolds for children.