You’ve been putting off calling us to see if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. You have been resisting this like so many others. But the hassle, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too hard to ignore.
So when you do finally come in and then you find out that you will still have to wait another two weeks before you get your custom fit hearing aids, it can be discouraging.
That’s another two weeks struggling with those lost moments before you can start getting them back. However, there is another alternative: a deceptively basic device add-on, known as hearing aid domes.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
Doesn’t that sound sort of epic? Like some type of arena where hearing aids battle in ancient, mythological combat. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a bit less exciting than that. They are pretty cool though. Hearing aid domes are like tiny earbuds that you can put on the end of your hearing aid speaker. Usually made of silicone or plastic, they attach to the tubing of your hearing aid and fit on the part that goes into your ear canal. You can use them on both behind-the-ear and in-ear models. And they generally do two things:
- They position the hearing aid speaker (the part that you listen to) in the most effective position within your ear canal. And they help secure the speaker in place. That way it’s not moving around.
- On occasion, external sound can interfere with the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help stop that by regulating the amount of outside sound. When used correctly, hearing aid domes provide you with some extra control and work to improve sound quality.
Domes for hearing aids look sort of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. You will have to choose the hearing aid dome that’s best for you from several types, and we can help you do that.
What is the difference between hearing aid domes?
Most come in open and closed types, each letting in more or less ambient sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different kinds, including:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more outside sound to pass through and into your ears. You get the benefit of amplification while still being able to process external sounds.
Closed Domes
As the name implies, these domes have fewer openings and stop more ambient sound than open domes can. For people with more severe hearing loss, background noise can be very distracting and this kind of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes completely block the ear canal and have no venting. This means very little to no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These are most effective for extremely profound hearing loss.
Do hearing aid domes need to be changed?
Every two to three months will be the best schedule for changing your hearing aid domes (your ears can be a bit dirty in there).
For most individuals, hearing aid domes can be used right out of the box. As a matter of fact, that’s one of their biggest advantages.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
Hearing aid domes are popular for a wide variety of reasons. The most widespread advantages include the following:
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the best benefits of hearing aid domes. You can put them in and wear your hearing aid immediately. This is an ideal solution for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. It’s also good for people who want to demo their hearing aids before they purchase them. With hearing aid domes, patients don’t have to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: A natural amount of sound can get through some types of hearing aid domes. This means you will still be able to hear your own voice as you naturally would. You’ll most likely wear your hearing aids more often if they sound clear and natural.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t that big, particularly when they’re in your ear. In this way, they can be rather discrete.
- Everything sounds a little more natural: By selecting the correct hearing aid dome type, you can guarantee that your hearing aids produce a natural overall sound and improved sound clarity. That’s because some sound will still (probably) get through. We can help you determine the kind that’s best for you.
And again, this will mean you’re not as likely to leave your hearing aid sitting on your nightstand.
What are the drawbacks to hearing aid domes?
You’ll want to be mindful of some of the downsides and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They can at times be uncomfortable: Some people are uncomfortable with the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Some people find this sensation, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, intensely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can become lodged in your ear if you pull it out too fast or if you don’t keep it clean. If this occurs, you’ll likely need to come see us to have it removed.
- Sometimes, they can cause feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily typical, but it can happen. For individuals who are dealing with high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Some types of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: As an example, hearing aid domes won’t be the ideal option if you have high frequency hearing loss or profound hearing loss. For people with high-frequency hearing loss, once again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s an issue with profound hearing loss: the type of hearing aid commonly associated with hearing aid domes is usually not large or powerful enough for this kind of hearing loss.
Should I use hearing aid domes?
Ultimately, the decision of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is mostly a personal one. We can help but it’s your choice. And we will look at your specific needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
For some people, it might be worth waiting the extra couple of weeks for a custom-fit device. For other people, the quick results of hearing aids you can use today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
The good thing is that you’ve got options.