How to Trim Earmold Tubing

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New earmolds come with long tubing so you can cut to size. Follow these steps to trim your child’s earmold tubing to best secure their hearing aid. Remember, it’s always best to measure twice, cut once. View video instructions: youtube.com/watch?v=YF4N6GT2Vnc

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1. Line up long tubing with hearing aid earhook

Ear with earmold, labeled with Earhook, Hearing Aid, Earmold and Earmold Tubing

Insert earmold into the ear.
Place hearing aid on ear as it normally sits.
Line up the (long) tubing of the mold with the earhook of the hearing aid.

2. Mark tubing

Marking marking an earmold tubing

With a pen or Sharpie, mark where the tubing just hits the top of the earhook notch.

Image of earmold in ear with a arrow pointing to the earhook notch

3. Cut tubing

Earmold tubing being cut by scissors

Take the earmold off of your child and place it on the counter. Do not cut the tubing with the earmold on your child.
Use scissors to cut just above where you marked. Cut conservatively, above the line you drew. You can always trim more tubing off if it’s still too long but you can’t add it back on.

4. Attach newly trimmed tubing to the earhook of the hearing aid

Imshowing where to attach the tube to the top notch of the earhook

Attach newly trimmed (short) tubing from the earmold to the top notch of the earhook of the hearing aid. Sometimes the new tubes are too tight to fit on the earhook. You may need to gently stretch the trimmed tubing with a tool, such as needle nose pliers, then attach tubing to the earhook.

5. Check that the correct earmold is attached to the correct hearing aid

Left: Left hearing aid/left earmold; Right: Right hearing aid/right earmold. Text reads: Blue dotted hearing aid goes with left earmold. Red dotted hearing aid goes with right earmold

6. Check fit

Ear with a earmold/hearing aid

Check the fit. The image at left shows a good fit. If the tubing is too long, you will notice the hearing aid “flopping off” easily. If the tubing is too short, the ear will develop a red mark.

To Learn More

Audiology
206-987-5173
Ask your child’s healthcare provider
seattlechildrens.org/patient-education

Free Interpreter Services

In the hospital, ask your nurse.
From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.

Seattle Children’s offers free interpreter services for patients, family members and legal representatives who are deaf or hard of hearing or speak a language other than English. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request. Call the Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201. This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon this information, please talk with your healthcare provider.

07/01/2025

PE3073