After months (maybe even years) of waiting, you’ve finally decided to contact us to see if you should get hearing aids. You’ve been resisting this like so many other people. But the inconvenience, 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 two weeks before you get your custom fit hearing aids, it can be disheartening.
That’s another two weeks struggling with those lost moments before you can begin getting them back. But you could try a simple little device add on called a hearing aid dome instead.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
They sound kind of epic, right? Like hearing aids fighting in some type of ancient mythical arena. Welcome to the Hearing Aid Dome: Two hearing aids enter…but only one leaves!
It’s not quite that exciting. They are rather cool though. Hearing aid domes are like little earbuds that you can put on the end of your hearing aid speaker. 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 models of hearing aids. Here are the two basic functions:
- They assure that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an ideal position in your ear. And they position the speaker so it won’t jiggle around in your ear.
- On occasion, external sound can interfere with the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help stop that by controlling the amount of outside sound. When properly used, hearing aid domes provide you with a bit of extra control and work to enhance sound clarity.
Domes for hearing aids look sort 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 a number of types, and we can help you do that.
What is the difference between hearing aid domes?
Most come in open and closed designs, each letting in more or less background sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different kinds, including:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more natural sound to pass through and into your ears. You get the advantage of amplification while still being able to process outside sounds.
Closed Domes
These domes let less outside sound in through fewer and smaller holes. These are better for more pronounced hearing loss where background noise can be a distraction.
Power Domes
Power domes have no holes and totally block external sounds. With these, almost no outside sound can get in. These domes will be best for individuals with extremely 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 aren’t the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
Hearing aid domes can usually be used right out of the box. That’s one of the best things about them.
What are the advantages of hearing aid domes?
Hearing aid domes are popular for a wide variety of reasons. The most common benefits include the following:
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t very big, particularly when they’re in your ear. In this way, they can be pretty 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 un-box them, pop them on your hearing aid and you’re good to go. For individuals who don’t want to wait for custom fit hearing aids, it’s the ideal solution. And if you want to try out a hearing aid before you purchase it, they’re great for that too. For people who want results faster, hearing aid domes can provide a way to accomplish that without sacrificing the quality of your sound clarity.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are designed to let a natural level of sound get through. This means you will still be able to hear your own voice as you normally would. This makes the clarity of sound seem a lot more natural, which means you’re likely to wear your hearing aids far more often.
- Everything sounds a little more natural: You can be certain your hearing aids create a clear, natural sound quality by selecting the right type of hearing aid domes. That’s because some sound will still (likely) get through. Again, this depends on the style of dome, and we can help you with this.
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?
You’ll want to be aware of some of the downsides and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Among the most prevalent are the following:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be very uncomfortable for some individuals. Hearing specialists call this sensation “occlusion,” and some people can find it intensely unpleasant. Also, your hearing aid dome can get lodged in your ear if you pull it out too quickly or if you don’t keep it clean. If this occurs, you’ll most likely need to come see us to have it removed.
- They can occasionally be more prone to feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily typical, but it can occur. This is particularly true for those who have high-frequency hearing loss.
- Some types 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 solution for you. For people with high-frequency hearing loss, again, it’s the feedback that becomes the issue. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s an issue with profound hearing loss: you’ll need something that’s bigger and which has more power than the styles typically associated with hearing aid domes.
Should I use hearing aid domes?
It’s mostly a personal decision whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will go over your specific needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
For some individuals, it may be worth waiting the extra couple of weeks for a custom-fit device. For others, the immediate results of hearing aids you can wear today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
The good thing is that you’ve got options.