After months (maybe even years) of waiting, you’ve finally decided to contact us to find out if you should get hearing aids. You have been resisting this like so many other people. But the inconvenience, the lost moments, the missing conversations, they all finally became too hard to ignore.
So when you do finally come in and then you learn that you will still need to wait another couple of weeks before you get your custom fit hearing aids, it can be disheartening.
That’s another two weeks dealing 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 are hearing aid domes?
They sound sort of epic, right? Like hearing aids dueling in some type of ancient mythical arena. 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 pretty cool though. Hearing aid domes are like little earbuds that you can place at the end of your hearing aid speaker. Generally 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. They’re made for behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal style hearing aids. And they generally do two things:
- They guarantee that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an ideal position in your ear. And they help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not wiggling around.
- In some cases, outside sound can interfere with 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 provide you with a bit of extra control and work to enhance sound clarity.
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 best 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 dome models 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 openings and stop more ambient sound than open domes do. For individuals with more significant hearing loss, background noise can be very distracting and this type of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes have no holes and completely block outside sounds. This means virtually no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These are most practical for extremely severe hearing loss.
Do hearing aid domes need to be swapped out?
Every two to three months will be the ideal schedule for changing your hearing aid domes (your ears are not the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
For most individuals, hearing aid domes can be used right out of the box. That’s one of the greatest things about them.
What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?
Hearing aid domes are popular for a wide array of reasons. The most widespread advantages include the following:
- Everything sounds a little more natural: By selecting the best hearing aid dome type, you can be certain that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and improved sound clarity. Most likely, some sound will still get through and that’s the reason for this. We can help you determine the type that’s best for you.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are designed to let a natural level of sound get through. 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.
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the best advantages of hearing aid domes. You can put them in and use your hearing aid right away. This is a perfect option for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. It’s also great for people who want to try out their hearing aids before they buy them. For people who want results faster, hearing aid domes can provide a way to accomplish that without sacrificing the quality of your sound clarity.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are fairly small, particularly when they’re tucked into your ear. In this way, they can be rather discrete.
And again, this will mean you’re not as likely to leave your hearing aid sitting on your nightstand.
Are there downsides to hearing aid domes?
You’ll want to be mindful of some of the downsides and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They can sometimes be uncomfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be really unpleasant for some individuals. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some individuals can find it intensely unpleasant. In addition, 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 stuck in your ear canal. You’ll probably need to come in and see us to get it removed if this happens.
- Sometimes, they can cause feedback: Feedback, though not really common, sometimes does happen. For individuals who have high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Not suitable for all types of hearing loss: As an example, hearing aid domes won’t be the ideal 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 an issue with profound hearing loss: you’ll require something that’s larger and which is more powerful than the types typically associated with hearing aid domes.
So are hearing aid domes right for me?
Inevitably, the choice of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is mostly a personal one. We can help but it’s up to you. And we will be able to help you understand all the pros and cons pertaining to your personal hearing health.
Some individuals might be better off waiting for a custom fitting. Others will build healthy lifelong hearing habits by opting for a solution that allows them to start using their new hearing aids immediately.
The good thing is that you’ve got options.
