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.

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.

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.

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.