You’ve been avoiding calling us to find out if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. Like many other people, you’ve been resisting this. But the stress of going through life without being able to hear has finally become too hard to ignore.
So when you do finally come in and then you learn that you will still need to wait another two weeks before you obtain your custom fit hearing aids, it can be frustrating.
That means that you will be losing some of life’s precious moments for two more weeks. But you could try a basic little device add on called a hearing aid dome instead.
What are hearing aid domes?
They sound kind of grand, right? Like some kind of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythical combat. Only one hearing aid can come forth victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a bit less thrilling than that. But they are rather neat. Hearing aid domes are like tiny earbuds that you can place on the end of your hearing aid speaker. Typically made of plastic or silicone, they fit around that little part that goes inside your ear canal, connecting to the tubing of your hearing aid. You can use them with both behind-the-ear and in-ear models. Here are the two basic functions:
- They position the hearing aid speaker (the part that you listen to) in an optimal position within your ear canal. And they help secure the speaker in place. That way it’s not moving around.
- Sometimes, outside sound can impede the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help avoid that by controlling the amount of outside sound. When properly used, hearing aid domes provide you with some extra control and work to improve sound clarity.
Domes for hearing aids look kind of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. There are several hearing aid dome types, so we will help you pick the one that’s best for your needs.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Most come in open and closed types, each letting in more or less background sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different kinds, including:
Open Domes
With these, more sound is able to pass through little holes in the dome. 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 severe hearing loss, background noise can be really distracting and this type of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes totally block the ear canal and have no venting. With these, almost no external sound can get in. These domes will be ideal for people with very severe hearing impairment.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best effect, you should change your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears aren’t the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
For most individuals, hearing aid domes can be worn right out of the box. As a matter of fact, that’s one of their biggest advantages.
What are the advantages of hearing aid domes?
There are numerous reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. Here are a few common advantages:
- 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 able to hear your own voice. This makes the clarity of sound feel a lot more natural, which means you’re likely to wear your hearing a great deal more often.
- The external world sounds more clear and natural: You can be certain your hearing aids produce a clear, natural sound quality by selecting the right type of hearing aid domes. Most likely, some sound will still get through 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 aren’t very big, especially when they’re in your ear. In this way, they can be rather discrete.
- No fitting time: One of the most popular (and immediate) benefits of hearing aid domes is that you don’t need to wait. You can put them in and use your hearing aid immediately. This is an ideal option for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. And if you want to demo a hearing aid before you purchase 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 will mean you’re less likely to leave your hearing aid sitting on your nightstand.
Are there drawbacks to hearing aid domes?
As with any hearing device or medical procedure, there are some downsides and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to consider before deciding. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They’re not always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be really unpleasant for some individuals. Some individuals find this feeling, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, intensely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can get stuck in your ear if you pull it out too fast or if you don’t keep it clean. You’ll probably need to come in and see us to get it removed if this happens.
- They can sometimes be more prone to feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily typical, but it can happen. For people who are dealing with high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Not ideal for all forms of hearing loss: As an illustration, hearing aid domes won’t be the ideal choice if you have high frequency hearing loss or profound hearing loss. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s an issue with profound hearing loss: the kind 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?
It’s largely a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will go over your individual needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
Some people may do better waiting for a custom fitting. For other people, the quick results of hearing aids you can wear today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
You have options and that’s the nice thing.
