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 living life without being able to hear has finally become too much.
So it’s a bit discouraging when you’re at the hearing specialist’s office and you find out that you’re going to have to wait another couple of weeks for custom fit hearing aids.
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 epic, right? Like hearing aids dueling in some kind of ancient mythological arena. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a little less exciting than that. They are rather cool though. Hearing aid domes are put on the end of your hearing aid speakers like tiny earbuds. 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. They’re made for behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal style hearing aids. Here are the two general functions:
- They position the hearing aid speaker (the bit that you listen to) in an optimal position within your ear canal. And they secure the speaker so it won’t jiggle around inside of your ear.
- They can help limit the amount of outside sound you hear, particularly when that external sound can interfere with the function of your hearing aid. When properly used, hearing aid domes offer you some extra control and work to improve sound quality.
Domes for hearing aids look kind of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. You will have to select the hearing aid dome that’s ideal for you from a number of kinds, and we can help you do that.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Most come in open and closed designs, each letting in more or less background sound.
Hearing aid dome models include:
Open Domes
With these, more sound is able to pass through little holes in the dome. This helps your ear process natural sounds along with the benefit of amplification.
Closed Domes
These domes let less external sound in through fewer and smaller holes. These are better for more advanced hearing loss where background noise can be distracting.
Power Domes
Power domes have no holes and totally block outside sounds. This means virtually no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These domes will be ideal for people with extremely severe hearing loss.
How often should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best results, you should change your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears are not the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
For most people, hearing aid domes can be used right out of the box. In fact, that’s one of their biggest advantages.
What are the advantages of hearing aid domes?
Hearing aid domes are popular for a wide variety of reasons. Here are some prevailing benefits:
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the greatest advantages of hearing aid domes. You can un-box them, pop them on your hearing aid and you’re ready to go. This is an ideal option for individuals who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. And if you want to try out a hearing aid before you buy it, they’re great for that too. With hearing aid domes, patients don’t have to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
- The external world sounds more clear and natural: By choosing the right hearing aid dome type, you can ensure that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and enhanced sound clarity. More than likely, some sound will still get through and that’s the reason for this. We can help you determine the kind that’s best for you.
- You can hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are designed to let a natural level of sound come in. This means you can still hear your own voice as you normally would. This makes the clarity of sound feel a lot more natural, which means you’re likely to use your hearing a great deal more often.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are fairly small, particularly when they’re tucked into your ear. They’re rather discrete in this way.
And again, this will mean you’re not as likely to leave your hearing aid sitting on your nightstand.
What are the downsides to hearing aid domes?
You’ll want to be aware 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 individuals are uncomfortable with the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Hearing specialists call this sensation “occlusion,” and some people can find it intensely uncomfortable. Additionally, if you pull your hearing aid dome out too fast (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. If this occurs, you’ll most likely need to come see us to have it removed.
- Sometimes, they can cause feedback: Feedback, though not very common, occasionally does happen. For individuals who have high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Not suitable for all forms of hearing loss: As an illustration, hearing aid domes won’t be the best option if you have high frequency hearing loss or profound hearing loss. Again, the feedback can become an issue with high frequency hearing loss. For individuals with profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the problem: you’ll require something that’s larger and which is more powerful than the types commonly associated with hearing aid domes.
Should I get hearing aid domes?
It’s mostly a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. We can help but it’s up to you. And we will be able to help you understand all the pros and cons pertaining to your personal hearing health.
For some individuals, it may be worth waiting the extra two weeks for a custom-fit device. Others will create healthy lifelong hearing habits by choosing a solution that allows them to begin using their new hearing aids immediately.
The nice thing is that you have options.