I think that ACS sound like a good company to be going with.
I have found a supported outlet for them, specifically the hearing centre in Boots @ Bromley, but if I phoned them, what would I need to say to them exactly, as I have no clue and dont want to say the wrong thing to them and confuse them.
I need to basically have the whole process for this explained to me so im in the clear about how this all works
The basic process is:
1. Make sure your ears are clean & wax free
2. The audiologist will check your ears first and will only proceeed if you have clean ears free of heavy wax build up (hence point 1). They use the standard lighted ear inspection thingy (lugholescope or whatever it's really called)
3. They then insert a small piece of cotton wool on string fairly deep into the ear to prevent the impression material going in too far.
4. Next they use a silicon sealant gun to fill the ear cavity and the outer ear - feels odd but not uncomfortable - and it gets very quiet. Takes about 5 to 10 mins to solidify. *** see notes below
5. The silicon is removed and the cotton wool normally comes out with it (the string is just a precaution)
6. You pay and they send the impressions off to ACS
7. ACS will make the opposite mould from the impression and using a UM2 jig create a custom sleeve in your desired style.
8. You'll either go back to the place where you had the moulds done or get ACS to send them direct to you.
9. First fit will be a bit tentative but you'll soon get used to them and if the fit is correct you'll wonder why people bother with universal ones at all!
10. Take your ipod/mp3 with you, play some test tracks to make sure the fit is good and the seal correct. **** see below
*** Some people recommend using a bite block to keep the mouth open slightly whilst the silicon sets. ACS suggest you think about how you will use the tips, do you normally go around listening with your mouth open or closed etc. Talk to the person taking the impression before starting, whichever you choose make sure you keep still until the mould is done. Some custom tips are hard acrylic, the ACS ones are a softer silicon, hence the differences in taking the moulds. I must admit the thought of the hard moulds worried me so made the ACS option preferable - that's just a personal preference I know a lot of people like the harder acrylic.
**** I'd suggest downloading the
Sensa seal test tracks and trying them with your universal tips so you know what to expect when testing your new custom moulds.
Any questions just ask, I'll answer any I can.