RESEARCH SUMMARY

Conclusion and Summary of the Smith Study of Comply™ Snap Tips
A Major Advance in Earmolds
Ken Smith, Ph.D., Au.D. and Bob Oliveira, Ph.D.

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on results of 78 study participants, it is apparent that the Comply™ Snap Tip has applications well beyond it’s use in the demonstration of hearing aid technology, temporary hearing aid fitting and fitting of loaner hearing aids to patients with custom products needing out-of-office repair.

Subject ratings of comfort were high and significantly higher than for ratings of their custom earmolds! This was the coupler of choice for replacement of custom earmolds in these experienced users. An added benefit was absolute feedback management in the majority of patients. It would appear that such control of feedback and the addition of ‘comfort’ should increase the odds of a successful fitting for new users.

This study did not examine the cosmetic aspects observed with the use of this product, but 69% of subjects reported (unsolicited) that they preferred the appearance of the Snap Tip to their own custom earmold. Properly inserted in the ear canal of a good candidate, Snap Tips appear to provide a cosmetic advantage to the patient over most custom earmolds.

Results of this study also indicate that the Snap Tip earmold is not appropriate for all patients. Patients with limited vision, poor manual dexterity and susceptibility to skin reactions should probably be directed toward custom earmolds.

While both of the children (ages 4 and 10 years) included in this study used the Snap Tip successfully, both had unusually large ear canals. Age and ear canal size issues with children deserve further study, with respect to use of the Snap Tips and they are recommended for children, age 5 and older.

SUMMARY:

Results of this study show that the audiologist now has a new device for coupling behind-the-ear hearing aids to the ear that increases both patient comfort and minimizes feedback.

While this Snap Tip is not appropriate for all patients, it should be useful for the majority of patients seen in the clinic. Since the product is replaceable with a built-in wax guard, patient office visits relevant to obstruction or gradual degradation of the aided signal should be minimized, thus allowing the clinician to focus more on the quality of the sound delivered to the impaired ear.

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