You’ve been avoiding calling us to find out if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. You’ve been resisting this like so many others. But the difficulty of going through life without being able to hear has finally become too hard to ignore.
So it’s a bit disheartening when you’re at the hearing specialist’s office and you find out that you’re going to need to wait another two weeks for custom fit hearing aids.
That means that you will be losing some of life’s treasured moments for two more weeks. Of course, there is another alternative: a deceptively simple device add-on, known as hearing aid domes.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
They sound kind of epic, right? Like some kind of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythical combat. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
It’s not really that exciting. But they are rather neat. Hearing aid domes are like little 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 in your ear canal. They’re made for both behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal models of hearing aids. Here are the two basic functions:
- 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 jiggle around inside of your ear.
- They can help control the amount of outside sound you hear, especially when that external sound can impede the functionality of your hearing aid. Hearing aid domes work to improve the sound quality and provide an extra bit of control when used properly.
Those little bulbs at the end of earbuds are similar to hearing aid domes. You will have to select the hearing aid dome that’s best for you from several types, and we can assist you in doing that.
Different types of 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 natural sound to get through and into your ears. This helps your ear process natural sounds along with the advantage of amplification.
Closed Domes
These domes let less outside sound in through fewer and smaller holes. For individuals with more profound hearing loss, ambient noise can be quite distracting and this type of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes completely block the ear canal and have no holes. With these, almost no outside sound can get in. These are most effective for extremely severe hearing loss.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
Every two to three months will be the ideal schedule for changing your hearing aid domes (your ears are not the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
Hearing aid domes can typically be used right out of the box. That’s one of the greatest things about them.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. The most common advantages include the following:
- No fitting time: One of the most prominent (and immediate) advantages of hearing aid domes is that you don’t have to wait. You can pop them in and use your hearing aid immediately. This is an ideal solution for individuals who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. It’s also great for individuals who want to try out their hearing aids before they purchase them. For people who want faster results, hearing aid domes can provide a way to accomplish that without sacrificing the quality of your sound clarity.
- 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 can still hear your own voice as you naturally would. You’re more likely to wear your hearing aids more often if they sound clear and natural.
- The external world sounds more clear and natural: By selecting the right hearing aid dome type, you can guarantee that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and enhanced sound clarity. Most likely, some sound will still get in and that’s the reason for this. Again, this depends on the style of dome, and we will help you with this.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are pretty small, particularly when they’re tucked into your ear. In this way, they can be rather discrete.
And again, this will mean you’re not as likely to leave your hearing aid sitting in a drawer.
Are there downsides to hearing aid domes?
You’ll want to be aware of some of the drawbacks and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They’re not always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be very unpleasant for some individuals. Some people find this sensation, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, extremely uncomfortable. In addition, if you take your hearing aid dome out too quickly (or don’t clean it frequently enough), there’s the chance that it might separate from the tubing and get lodged in your ear canal. You’ll most likely need to come in and see us to get it removed if this happens.
- They can occasionally be more prone to feedback: Feedback, though not very common, sometimes does occur. This is especially true for individuals who have high-frequency hearing loss.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suitable for hearing aid domes: For instance, if you are suffering from profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes may not be the preferred solution for you. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, again, it’s the feedback that becomes the issue. For those with profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the issue: you’ll need something that’s bigger and which has more power than the types typically associated with hearing aid domes.
So are hearing aid domes right for me?
It’s mostly a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s up to you but we can help. And we will discuss your specific needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
For some individuals, it might be worth waiting the extra two weeks for a custom-fit device. Others will create healthy lifelong hearing habits by opting for a solution that lets them start using their new hearing aids immediately.
You have options and that’s the good thing.
