Frequently asked questions

Please contact us via email, telephone or via the website. We will then contact you and ask some questions about your company, its users and specific needs. Based on this we will prepare a quotation. After you agreed, you must complete a client form. In consultation with your contact person from our office staff, we will choose a time when the product specialist from our field staff can go to your site. The product specialist will be able to measure ten people per hour. The ear impressions are processed in our lab, after which an appointment is scheduled to deliver the produced sets. Upon delivery, an instruction is given and the otoplastics are tested for leak-tightness.

The lifespan is more or less determined by the user. Everyone's external anatomy changes in their own unique way and speed. That is why it is important to have the otoplastics tested every year to determine if it is still leak-proof. In the one person they will leak after 7 years, in the other after 2 years. The average lifespan is 5 years. But still, this has more to do with the user than with the quality of the product.

The maintenance session will be completely useless without the users. The most important part of the maintenance is the leakproof test. During this test, the product specialist tests whether the otoplastics still blocks the ear canals adequately. In addition to this, the dialogue between the user and the product specialist is very important. Based on the experience, adjustments, such as the damping, can be made.

The product specialist delivers the otoplastics on site. Upon delivery, an instruction is given and the otoplastics are tested for leak-tightness. If the otoplastics show a leak, new ear impressions can be taken immediately. The user can also immediately indicate whether the otoplastics feel good or not. The specialist also supports the user in the exercise to insert the otoplastics properly. We therefore strongly recommend a presence of the users. Suppose someone is unexpectedly absent, we leave the otoplastics set up and test them during another appointment.

The hard otoplastics are made of acrylic. These glide easily over the skin and are therefore easier to insert. Hard ones are especially recommended for use in the food industry as they are easier to clean.

The soft otoplastics consist of silicone material and are therefore more flexible. These are especially recommended for work situations where a helmet is worn over the hearing protection. The soft version is more vulnerable and has a shorter lifespan.

The external anatomy of the ear changes in a unique way and speed with each person. This means that the otoplastics of one person already leaks after 2 years and of the other only after 8 years. For example, if a company decides to replace all otoplastics after 5 years, the first person will have walked around with leaking earplugs for 3 years with the associated harmful consequences. With the second person, the otoplastics are replaced unnecessarily and the company incurs unnecessary costs. It is therefore strongly recommended to test otoplastics for leak-tightness at least annually. In addition, during a maintenance appointment, a dialogue is created between the specialist and the user, and any problems can be addressed and resolved.

Within the context of the working conditions policy, the employer must record in writing which risks the work entails in an inventory and evaluation. This risk inventory and evaluation contains a description of the hazards and the risk-limiting measures indicated in an action plan. Noise poses both auditory and non-auditory risks to the health and well-being of exposed people. The soundscape must therefore be identified and kept up to date.

Please contact us via telephone, email, or via the website. We will inform you about the process that must be followed. We will find a date and time that suits us both when our specialist will come to your premises, without obligation to give suggestions about the measurement locations. If you have a list of such measurement locations, such a visit is not necessary. A quotation is prepared based on the list. After we reach an agreement, we will decide an a measurement day when the audiologist can come and perform the measurements on sit. You will receive the noise report a few days after the measurement day.

The Tympro employee starts with his measurements at the agreed time. This normally starts when the earliest work shift starts. The participants who represent the agreed measurement locations each receive a sound dosimeter. They are asked to keep a time schedule of their activities and locations. During the measurement day, the audiologist walks around and takes manual measurements at several locations and takes notes. At the end of the shift, the dosimeters and time schedules are collected.

The otoplastics are delivered within 4 weeks after the time of measurement. Tympro takes care of the delivery itself, whereby the specialist gives personal instructions to the new user and performs a leak-tightness test on the otoplastics. The leak tightness test is only possible if the user is present, as the otoplastics are tested in the ears.

If the employees are exposed to an average level of 85 decibels or higher for 8 hours or if peak noises are present that exceed 137 dB(C), the exposed employees are obliged to wear hearing protection.

In general, we recommend daily use of the wet wipes and weekly use of the cleaning set with active oxygen tablets. Obviously, this also depends on the person. The one user produces more earwax than the next. There are also major differences between different sectors. For example, in the metal industry, the otoplastics will get dirty more quickly. In the food sector, on the other hand, stricter hygiene requirements apply and the otoplastics will have to be cleaned more quickly.

A cleaning set consists of a cleaning cup with filter, a bellows and 8 cleaning tablets with active oxygen. You place a cleaning tablet in a cup. Then place the filter in the cup on which you place your set of otoplastics. Now fill the cup with water and let it fizz for several hours. Finally, place the bellows on the filter and blow the moisture out of the otoplastics. The product specialist will demonstrate this action when delivering the otoplastics.

The otoplastics must be blue.

It must be detectable. This is solved by adding a metal ball to the design.

Tympro recommends an acrylic version because these are the easiest to clean and the most hygienic. In addition, we also recommend using a cord so that they cannot just fall, the cord is also available in a blue detectable version, especially for the food industry.

Your back-office contact will select a time in the specialist's calendar when he or she will be in the yard area. The specialist will then visit the site to measure your employees in the site shed. Next, the set of otoplastics are also delivered.

The Tympro Sound Safe has an adjustable damping. When setting the damping, we always first look at the noise levels to which the user is exposed. Taking this into account, we will always avoid over-damping so that speech comprehension and hearing important sounds are preserved as much as possible.

When determining the damping values, first and foremost, the protective base is taken into account. This is determined based on the sound levels in the company. We base this on noise reports prepared in the past by us or by another party. If there are no measurements of this, we will make an estimate based on the industry and activities. Secondly, the avoidance of overprotection (too large attenuation value) is always taken into account, which in itself leads to higher acceptance of the hearing protection, which is of course beneficial for hearing health. The manageable attenuation values of otoplastics have an adjustment range between 20 dB and 35 dB.

First of all, this is legally required. Employees who are exposed to a daily dose from 80 decibels are given the opportunity to periodically undergo an occupational health examination in the form of audiometry. A personal medical file is kept about this. Audiometry is primarily performed to identify early trends in any hearing loss among the customer's employees. When (incipient) hearing damage is established, timely action can be taken and measures can be taken to prevent further deterioration of hearing.

Tympro always follows the data protection rules to the maximum. In addition, the participants of the study each select the desired level of anonymity.

This is legally required. Employees who are exposed to a daily dose of 80 decibels or more must be informed and instructed about the risks of noise exposure. This concerns, among other things, the nature of the risks, the measures taken, the established limit and action values, the results and explanation of the noise measurement, hearing protection, how to determine and report hearing damage, the rights applicable to health supervision, and safe working methods.

We notice from our customers that participants of the toolbox are extra motivated after the meeting to protect their hearing. They have learned that hearing damage is permanent and that the consequences of hearing damage can have a major impact on their future well-being.

The auditory canal has a self-cleaning mechanism whereby earwax is expelled naturally. In some people, this process regularly goes wrong and earwax continues to accumulate, causing a hardened cerumen plug.

A clogged ear is an important reason for not having a fitting. If the product specialist wishes to insert a cotton wool and inject mould paste into the ear canal, there is a risk that the hard and sometimes sharp cerumen plug will be pushed in even further and damage the eardrum. In addition, the ear impression will not be representative enough to make a good otoplastic from it.

If Tympro will visit soon to take ear impressions, it is advisable for people who regularly have cerumen plugs to visit their GP (just) before the appointment to remove the cerumen plug. Otherwise, there is a risk that the staff member and the product specialist will have to make a second fitting appointment with each other. So keep each other well informed about Tympro fitting times.