You’ve been avoiding calling us to see if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. You’ve been resisting this like so many other people. But the hassle, the lost moments, the missing conversations, they all finally became too much.
So when you do finally come in and then you find out that you will still have to wait another couple of weeks before you get your custom fit hearing aids, it can be frustrating.
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?
Doesn’t that sound kind of epic? Like some kind of arena where hearing aids battle in ancient, mythological combat. Only one hearing aid can come forth victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a bit less thrilling than that. But they are rather neat. Hearing aid domes are put on the end of your hearing aid speakers like little earbuds. Usually made of silicone or plastic, they attach 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. And they generally do two things:
- They position the hearing aid speaker (the part that you listen to) in the most effective position inside of your ear canal. And they secure 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. Hearing aid domes work to improve the sound quality and provide an extra bit of control when used correctly.
Those small bulbs at the end of earbuds are a lot like hearing aid domes. You will have to select the hearing aid dome that’s ideal for you from a number of types, and we can assist you in doing that.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Most come in open and closed styles, each letting in more or less background sound.
Hearing aid dome models include:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more natural sound to pass through and into your ears. This helps your ear process ambient sounds along with the advantage of amplification.
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 totally block the ear canal and have no venting. With these, almost no external sound can get in. These domes will be ideal for individuals with very severe hearing impairment.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
Every two to three months will be the ideal 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. In fact, that’s one of their biggest benefits.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
There are numerous reasons why hearing aid domes are popular. Here are a few prevailing benefits:
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t that big, particularly when they’re in your ear. In this way, they can be pretty discrete.
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the greatest advantages of hearing aid domes. You can put them in and wear your hearing aid immediately. For individuals who don’t want to wait for custom fit hearing aids, it’s the ideal solution. And if you want to demo a hearing aid before you purchase it, they’re good for that too. With hearing aid domes, patients don’t need to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
- You can hear your own voice: A natural level of sound can get through some types of hearing aid domes. This means you will still be able to 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 wear your hearing aids far more often.
- The external world sounds more clear and natural: By choosing the correct hearing aid dome type, you can ensure that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and improved sound clarity. Most likely, some sound will still get in and that’s the reason for this. We can help you determine the kind that’s best for you.
And again, this will mean you’re less likely to leave your hearing aid sitting in a drawer.
What are the downsides to hearing aid domes?
As with any hearing device or medical procedure, there are some downsides and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to consider before making a decision. Among the most prevalent are the following:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Some individuals are uncomfortable with the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some individuals can find it extremely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can become lodged in your ear if you pull it out too fast or if you don’t keep it clean. You’ll most likely need to come in and see us to get it removed if this happens.
- Occasionally, they can cause feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily typical, but it can occur. For people who have high frequency hearing loss, this is particularly true.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: As an example, 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 a problem with high frequency hearing loss. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s a problem with profound hearing loss: you’ll need something that’s bigger and which is more powerful than the types commonly associated with hearing aid domes.
So are hearing aid domes for me?
Ultimately, the decision of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is mostly a personal one. It’s up to you but we can help. And we will go over your specific needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
For some people, it may be worth waiting the extra two weeks for a custom-fit device. For other people, the quick results of hearing aids you can use today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
You’ve got options and that’s the nice thing.