You’ve been avoiding calling us to see if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. Like many other people, you’ve been resisting this. But the hassle, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too much.
So when you do finally come in and then you find out that you will still need to wait another couple of weeks before you obtain your custom fit hearing aids, it can be disheartening.
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 kind of epic, right? Like some kind of arena where hearing aids battle in ancient, mythical combat. Welcome to the Hearing Aid Dome: Two hearing aids enter…but only one leaves!
Well, it’s a bit less exciting than that. They are rather cool though. Hearing aid domes go on the end of your hearing aid speakers like little earbuds. Usually made out of silicone or plastic, they connect to the tubing of your hearing aid and fit around the part that goes inside of 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 guarantee that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an optimal position in your ear. And they secure the speaker so it won’t move around inside of your ear.
- In some cases, outside 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 clarity and provide an extra bit of control when used correctly.
Those little bulbs at the end of earbuds are a lot like hearing aid domes. There are multiple hearing aid dome types, so we will help you choose the one that’s best for your needs.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Open types and closed types each let in different amounts of ambient sound.
Hearing aid dome types include:
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 ambient sounds along with the advantage of amplification.
Closed Domes
As the name suggests, these domes have fewer holes and stop more ambient sound than open domes do. These are better for more advanced hearing loss where background noise can be distracting.
Power Domes
Power domes have no holes and completely block external sounds. With these, almost no external sound can get in. These domes will be best for individuals with very severe hearing impairment.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best results, 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 greatest things about them.
What are the advantages of hearing aid domes?
There are numerous reasons why hearing aid domes are popular. The most common benefits include the following:
- The outside world sounds more clear and natural: You can be sure your hearing aids produce a clear, natural sound quality by selecting the right type of hearing aid domes. That’s because some sound will still (probably) get through. We can help you identify the kind that’s ideal for you.
- 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.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: A natural level of sound can get through some models of hearing aid domes. This means you can still hear your own voice as you naturally would. You’ll most likely use your hearing aids more if they sound clear and natural.
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the best benefits of hearing aid domes. You can put them in and wear your hearing aid immediately. This is a perfect solution for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. It’s also great for individuals who want to demo their hearing aids before they buy them. For patients who want results faster, hearing aid domes can provide a way to accomplish that without compromising the quality of your sound clarity.
And again, this will mean you’re not as likely to leave your hearing aid sitting on your nightstand.
What are the drawbacks to hearing aid domes?
As with any hearing device or medical treatment, there are some downsides and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to think about before deciding. Among the most prevalent are the following:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Having something plugging the ear canal can be extremely uncomfortable for some people. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some individuals can find it intensely unpleasant. Additionally, if you take your hearing aid dome out too quickly (or don’t clean it frequently enough), there’s the possibility that it may separate from the tubing and get lodged in your ear canal. You’ll most likely need to come in and see us to have it removed if this happens.
- Sometimes, they can cause feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily common, but it does occur. 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 instance, if you have profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes may not be the preferred option for you. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s a problem with profound hearing loss: the kind of hearing aid typically associated with hearing aid domes is usually not large or powerful enough for this kind of hearing loss.
Should I get hearing aid domes?
It’s mostly a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will be able to help you understand all the pros and cons pertaining to your unique hearing health.
For some people, it might be worth waiting the extra couple of 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 good thing is that you’ve got options.
