The most common reason that the earmold tubing changes color is that the tubing is actually leeching color from the hearing instrument presentation case (assuming that the patient stores their instruments overnight in the case). In this instance, the display case might be lined with a colored felt. An easy fix would be to have the patient line the case with Saran Wrap or just about any clear plastic kitchen wrap. This would prevent the instruments and earmolds from coming in contact with the lining of the display case.
The fact of the matter is that anything that is dyed a color can actually leech into the earmold tubing. This is most likely caused by the body oils that are absorbed by the earmold tubing during normal use. Alternatively, the use of hair coloring could also cause the tubing to change color. This is it not as easy to fix, as some people may not want their real hair color to show. One option could be to try a different brand of hair coloring.
Overall, our experiences at Westone have shown that most cases of tubing changing color are caused by where patients store their earmolds and instruments when not in use. We have found that use of clear plastic kitchen wrap as mentioned above usually solves the problem.
For more information on Westone, visit www.westone.com
