COST OF IEM MOLDS does this sound correct?

[rokkitt]

Hello....I am making the move!

Made appointment wih audiologist

They say 175 for office visit....insurance 50 deductable..so just out the 50 dollars on that one.

Now get this....the ear mold imprrssions are 175 dollars. does that sound right?

I live near wash DC ... And I am going to an audiologist...so I get that.


Questions

Do I need a hearing test / office visit to get impressions?

Is there anywhere else to do impressions...how good are the ones u do yourself and send in?

What have u guys and gals done...how much did u pay?

I do sing backups...and one or two songs lead vox...if that matters


Thank you in advance TB peeps!


RokkittBass

[Billy K]

shop around cuz thay are padding the bill.I live in San Francisco and it cost me 115 2 weeks ago. office visit and impressions. I didn't want a hearing test.

[ko stradivarius]

Wha??

Ive had impression done twice in the last couple years at two different places here in St. Louis. The first was $40, the second was $50. No "office visit" charges. No insurance, just pay out of pocket. Call around. You're getting taken.
Oh.. and use a 1" bite block when doing the molds.

[wcriley]

Not IEMs, which may be more complicated, but...

I paid less that $150 for my musician's ear plugs.
That included two office visits with the audiologist, a hearing test, mold impression, and the finished product (including inserts).

[rokkitt]

Ok....thanks. I will call around. I will let u folks know what I find
.

I knew that sounded steep. ouch!

[Carver]

Yeah shop around for sure. Some companies will send you a kit. I did mine at home for free, and my IEMs turned out great.

[Vinny D]

I would go back and ask them to give you a cash price not using your health coverage.

The pricing seems consistant with what I see here in RI when using your insurance plan.

But there are plenty of places out there that do it so shop around anyway.

[jmac]

Originally Posted by wcriley

Not IEMs, which may be more complicated, but...

I paid less that $150 for my musician's ear plugs.
That included two office visits with the audiologist, a hearing test, mold impression, and the finished product (including inserts).

I paid $175 for my ear plugs; which included what you listed.

[mjac28]

I'll do it for $50.00 but you will have to pay for my air fare and accommodations and I'm talking nothing less than three stars sir.

[wcriley]

I'm curious as to why an insurance company would/should pay for IEM molds in the first place.

[ko stradivarius]

Another thing, whoever youre going with for the IEMs, take along any specific instructions they may have for the audiologist.
On that note, I cannot recommend Alien Ears IEMs as a bass player. I bought the dual drivers from them after speaking to them. No low end at all even with a good seal. I sent them back and they said they fixed them (no explanation of the problem given). They still sound like "tin". Expensive lesson learned. My $15 skull candy sound better. Im waiting for some Aurisonic AS-1s to arrive now.

[rokkitt]

hey folks!

so, when you guys talk about musicians ear plugs, can those also be used for iems, if you take out the center db reducer peice? do IEM headphones fit into the "plugs"?

yes, I have to cancel that appointment.....maybe get a set of iem's that come along with a do it yourself home kit.

allen

[ko stradivarius]

Originally Posted by rokkitt

hey folks!

so, when you guys talk about musicians ear plugs, can those also be used for iems, if you take out the center db reducer peice? do IEM headphones fit into the "plugs"?

yes, I have to cancel that appointment.....maybe get a set of iem's that come along with a do it yourself home kit.

allen

If I understand correctly the answer is no.
Some companies will make custom tips so you can use your ear phones but you still have to get molds made. On top of that they only make them for select ear phones.

[svtb15]

I called a local audiologist in N Texas near the hospital medical center.... It only cost me $20.. I asked if that was correct.. .Yup it was... not only that, but the the doctor, she could have been a super model!!! Then i sent the Molds off to Westone and had me ES3 done

[ko stradivarius]

Originally Posted by svtb15

I called a local audiologist in N Texas near the hospital medical center.... It only cost me $20.. I asked if that was correct.. .Yup it was... not only that, but the the doctor, she could have been a super model!!! Then i sent the Molds off to Westone and had me ES3 done

Id make up an excuse for a follow up appointment. ;-)

[Billy K]

the guys at Costco hearing center made molds for free.Because they do not sell or rep any IEM companies.Great service. I am not sure if that will happen at your local Costco.But I found 2 nice guys at the Costco near me that helped me out.

[guy n. cognito]

$75 here.

[phangtonpower]

I have no experience with any of these headphones, but I know Skull Candy's are bass heavy IEM. I would never judge headphones on how loud the bass is, but if it can reproduce the bass clearly . That being said. Don't know if I would trust a name like "Alien Ears" either.

Originally Posted by ko stradivarius

Another thing, whoever youre going with for the IEMs, take along any specific instructions they may have for the audiologist.
On that note, I cannot recommend Alien Ears IEMs as a bass player. I bought the dual drivers from them after speaking to them. No low end at all even with a good seal. I sent them back and they said they fixed them (no explanation of the problem given). They still sound like "tin". Expensive lesson learned. My $15 skull candy sound better. Im waiting for some Aurisonic AS-1s to arrive now.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by Carver

Yeah shop around for sure. Some companies will send you a kit. I did mine at home for free, and my IEMs turned out great.

I don't recommend that. IMO a trained pro should do your ear molds. They do it all the time, so it will be done correctly, and there is some risk to your hearing if not done right. I know of one instance where the liquid plastic got to someone's tympanum and when they pulled the mold out when the plastic solidified, the eardrum, anvil, and stirrup came out with it.

[svtb15]

No doubt... Ive had mine a few years . I think i need a refitting.... haha

Originally Posted by ko stradivarius

Id make up an excuse for a follow up appointment. ;-)