You’ve been putting off calling us to see if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. Like many, you’ve been resisting this. But the inconvenience, 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 couple of weeks before you obtain your custom fit hearing aids, it can be discouraging.
That’s another two weeks coping with those lost moments before you can begin getting them back. But you could try a basic little device add on called a hearing aid dome instead.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
They sound sort of epic, right? Like hearing aids fighting in some type of ancient mythological arena. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
It’s not quite that thrilling. But they are pretty neat. Hearing aid domes go on the end of your hearing aid speakers like little earbuds. Typically made of plastic or silicone, they fit over that little bit that goes in your ear canal, connecting to the tubing of your hearing aid. They’re made for both behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal models of hearing aids. And they basically do two things:
- They assure that the speaker of the hearing aid is sitting in an optimal position in your ear. And they position the speaker so it won’t move around inside of your ear.
- Sometimes, external sound can interfere with the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help stop that by controlling the amount of outside sound. Hearing aid domes work to enhance the sound quality and offer an extra bit of control when used correctly.
Domes for hearing aids look kind 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 kinds, and we can assist you in doing that.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Open types and closed types each let in different amounts of background sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different types, including:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more outside sound to get through and into your ears. You get the benefit of amplification while still being able to process outside sounds.
Closed Domes
These domes let less outside sound in through fewer and smaller holes. For people with more significant hearing loss, background noise can be quite distracting and this kind of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes don’t have any holes and completely block outside sounds. This means very little to no sound at all can pass into the ear canal. These are most effective for extremely severe hearing loss.
How often should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best effect, you should swap out your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears can be a bit unclean in there).
For most individuals, hearing aid domes can be worn right out of the box. That’s one of the best things about them.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. Here are some common benefits:
- Everything sounds a little more natural: By finding the right hearing aid dome type, you can ensure that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and improved sound clarity. That’s because some sound will still (probably) get in. We can help you identify the kind that’s best for you.
- You can hear your own voice: A natural level of sound can get through some models of hearing aid domes. So you will still be capable of hearing your own voice. You’re more likely to use your hearing aids more if they sound clear and natural.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are fairly small, particularly when they’re tucked into your ear. They’re pretty discrete in this way.
- No fitting time: One of the most popular (and immediate) advantages of hearing aid domes is that you don’t need to wait. You can un-box them, pop them on your hearing aid and you’re good to go. For individuals who don’t want to wait for custom fit hearing aids, it’s the ideal option. And if you want to demo a hearing aid before you buy it, they’re great for that too. With hearing aid domes, you don’t have to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
And, again, this means many people are more likely to use those hearing aids more often.
Are there downsides to hearing aid domes?
As with any hearing device or medical procedure, there are some drawbacks and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to consider before making a decision. Here are a few of the most common:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Some people are uncomfortable with the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Some individuals find this feeling, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, extremely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can become stuck in your ear if you pull it out too fast or if you don’t keep it clean. If this happens, you’ll most likely need to come see us to have it removed.
- They can sometimes be more prone to feedback: Feedback, though not really common, sometimes does happen. This is especially true for people who are dealing with high-frequency hearing loss.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suitable for hearing aid domes: For example, if you are suffering from profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes may not be the best solution for you. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, once again, it’s the feedback that becomes the issue. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s a problem with profound hearing loss: you’ll require something that’s larger and which is more powerful than the styles typically associated with hearing aid domes.
So are hearing aid domes right for me?
Inevitably, the choice of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is mostly a personal one. It’s up to you but we can help. And we will go over your individual needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
Some individuals may be better off waiting for a custom fitting. Others will build healthy lifelong hearing habits by opting for a solution that allows them to start using their new hearing aids immediately.
You have options and that’s the good thing.