You’ve been putting off 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 stress of living life without being able to hear has finally become too hard to ignore.
So it’s a little discouraging when you’re at the hearing specialist’s office and you find out that you’re going to need 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 simple little device add on known as a hearing aid dome instead.
What are hearing aid domes?
They sound sort of epic, right? Like some type of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythological combat. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
It’s not quite that thrilling. They are pretty cool though. Hearing aid domes are put on the end of your hearing aid speakers like tiny earbuds. Usually made out of silicone or plastic, they attach to the tubing of your hearing aid and fit around the part that goes into your ear canal. They’re made for both behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal models of hearing aids. And they generally do two things:
- They guarantee that the speaker of the hearing aid is sitting in an ideal position in your ear. And they help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not moving around.
- They can help limit the amount of external sound you hear, especially when that external sound can impede the functionality of your hearing aid. Hearing aid domes work to enhance the sound quality and offer an extra bit of control when used correctly.
Those small bulbs at the end of earbuds are a lot like hearing aid domes. There are multiple hearing aid dome styles, so we will help you choose the one that’s best for your needs.
What is the difference between hearing aid domes?
Most come in open and closed types, each letting in more or less ambient sound.
Hearing aid dome types include:
Open Domes
These have openings in the dome that allow more outside sound to get through and into your ears. This helps your ear process ambient sounds while still getting the advantage 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 ambient noise can be a distraction.
Power Domes
Power domes completely block the ear canal and have no holes. With these, almost no outside sound can get in. These domes will be ideal for individuals with very severe hearing loss.
How often should you change your hearing aid domes?
Every two to three months will be the best schedule for changing your hearing aid domes (your ears can be a bit unclean in there).
Hearing aid domes can typically be used right out of the box. As a matter of fact, that’s one of their biggest benefits.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. Here are some common benefits:
- The outside world sounds more clear and natural: By finding the correct hearing aid dome type, you can be certain that your hearing aids produce a natural overall sound and enhanced sound clarity. Most likely, some sound will still get through and that’s the reason for this. We can help you identify the kind that’s best for you.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t that big, particularly when they’re in your ear. They’re rather discrete in this way.
- You can hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are created to let a natural amount of sound get through. So you will still be able to hear your own voice. You’re more likely to wear your hearing aids more often if they sound clear and natural.
- 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 un-box them, put them on your hearing aid and you’re good to go. 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. With hearing aid domes, you don’t need to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
And, once again, this means many individuals are more likely to wear those hearing aids more often.
Are there downsides to hearing aid domes?
As with any hearing device or medical treatment, there are some drawbacks and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to consider before making a decision. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Some people don’t like the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Some individuals find this feeling, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, extremely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can get stuck in your ear if you pull it out too quickly 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 occasionally be more prone to feedback: Feedback, though not very common, occasionally does occur. For people who have high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: For instance, if you are suffering from profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes might not be the best option for you. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, once again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. For those with profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the issue: the kind of hearing aid typically associated with hearing aid domes is usually not large or powerful enough for this type of hearing loss.
So are hearing aid domes right for me?
It’s largely a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s up to you 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 two weeks for a custom-fit device. For others, the quick results of hearing aids you can use today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
The good thing is that you’ve got options.