PW The thing I see less of today is a fundamental skill set that directly drives patient satisfaction – the art of taking ear impressions. Whether it’s an earmould or a custom RIC, if there’s even a small irritation, too often it’s sent back to Starkey or another manufacturer instead of being adjusted in-office. The art of examining the shell, buffing, grinding, and making precise modifications has diminished....
Audiologists who have delegated ear impression taking to manufacturers should consider whether retraining in this skill is warranted to maintain custom-fit quality and patient satisfaction.
The erosion of fundamental clinical skills like ear impressions could widen the gap between device technology advances and real-world patient outcomes.
- 01Opinion argues audiologists are delegating ear impression skills to manufacturers at increasing rates.
- 02Author links decline in ear impression competency to reduced patient satisfaction with custom devices.
- 03The piece calls for audiologists to reclaim and maintain this fundamental clinical skill.
- 04No empirical data are cited; the argument is based on professional observation and experience.
- 05Relevant to audiology training programs and continuing education curricula.
Audiologists are losing the fundamental clinical skill of taking ear impressions.
opinionunclearDelegating ear impressions to manufacturers leads to worse patient satisfaction.
opinionunsupported
