You’ve been avoiding 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 inconvenience, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too much.
So it’s a bit discouraging when you’re at the hearing specialist’s office and you learn 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. But you could try a simple little device add on known as a hearing aid dome instead.
What are hearing aid domes?
Doesn’t that sound kind of epic? Like hearing aids fighting in some type of ancient mythological arena. Only one hearing aid can come forth victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a bit less exciting than that. But they are rather neat. Hearing aid domes are put on the end of your hearing aid speakers like small earbuds. Typically made of plastic or silicone, they fit around that little part that goes in your ear canal, attaching to the tubing of your hearing aid. You can use them with both behind-the-ear and in-ear models. Here are the two general functions:
- They assure that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an ideal position in your ear. And they help secure the speaker in place. That way it’s not wiggling around.
- Sometimes, outside sound can impede the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help avoid that by regulating the amount of outside sound. When properly used, hearing aid domes offer you a bit of extra control and work to enhance sound quality.
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 ideal for you from several kinds, and we can help you do that.
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 types, including:
Open Domes
With these, more sound is capable of passing through little holes in the dome. You get the benefit of amplification while still being able to process external sounds.
Closed Domes
These domes let less external sound in through fewer and smaller holes. For people with more severe hearing loss, background noise can be very distracting and this type of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes don’t have any holes and completely block outside sounds. This means virtually no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These are most effective for very severe hearing loss.
Do hearing aid domes need to be swapped out?
For best effect, you should swap out your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears can be a bit dirty in there).
Hearing aid domes can typically be worn right out of the box. In fact, that’s one of their primary benefits.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are popular. Here are a few prevailing benefits:
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are fairly small, especially when they’re tucked inside your ear. They’re rather discrete in this way.
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the greatest benefits of hearing aid domes. You can put them in and use your hearing aid immediately. For individuals who don’t want to wait for custom fit hearing aids, it’s the best option. It’s also good for individuals who want to try out their hearing aids before they purchase them. With hearing aid domes, you 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. So you will still be capable of hearing your own voice. You’ll most likely wear your hearing aids more often if they sound clear and natural.
- Everything sounds a little more natural: You can be sure your hearing aids produce a clear, natural sound quality by choosing the right type of hearing aid domes. Most likely, some sound will still get through and that’s the reason for this. Once again, this depends on the type of dome, and we will help you with this.
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 downsides and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Among the most common are the following:
- They’re not always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be very uncomfortable for some people. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some people can find it intensely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can get lodged 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 have it removed if this happens.
- Occasionally, they can cause feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily typical, but it does happen. This is especially true for individuals who are dealing with high-frequency hearing loss.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: For example, if you have profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes might not be the preferred solution for you. Once again, the feedback can become a problem with high frequency hearing loss. For individuals with profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the issue: 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 for me?
It’s largely a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will look at 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 create healthy lifelong hearing habits by opting for a solution that lets them begin using their new hearing aids right away.
The good thing is that you have options.