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 inconvenience, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too much.
So it’s a little discouraging when you’re sitting in the hearing specialist’s office and you find out that you’re going to have to wait another two weeks for custom fit hearing aids.
That means that you will be losing some of life’s precious moments for two more weeks. However, there is another alternative: a deceptively basic device add-on, known as hearing aid domes.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
They sound sort of grand, right? Like hearing aids fighting in some kind of ancient mythological arena. Welcome to the Hearing Aid Dome: Two hearing aids enter…but only one leaves!
It’s not really that thrilling. But they are pretty neat. Hearing aid domes are put on the end of your hearing aid speakers like small earbuds. Typically made of plastic or silicone, they fit around that little bit that goes in your ear canal, connecting to the tubing of your hearing aid. They’re made for behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal models of hearing aids. And they basically do two things:
- They position the hearing aid speaker (the part that you listen to) in the most effective position within your ear canal. And they help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not moving around.
- On occasion, outside sound can interfere with the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help avoid that by controlling the amount of outside sound. Hearing aid domes work to enhance the sound clarity and offer an extra bit of control when used properly.
Those small bulbs at the end of earbuds are similar to hearing aid domes. There are several hearing aid dome types, so we will help you choose the one that’s best for your needs.
What is the difference between hearing aid domes?
Open types and closed types each let in different amounts of background sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different kinds, including:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more outside sound to pass through and into your ears. You get the benefit of amplification while still being able to process external sounds.
Closed Domes
As the name suggests, these domes have fewer holes and block more ambient sound than open domes can. These are better for more pronounced hearing loss where ambient noise can be distracting.
Power Domes
Power domes completely block the ear canal and have no venting. With these, almost no outside sound can get in. These domes will be best for individuals with very severe hearing impairment.
How often should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best effect, you should change 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 best things about them.
How will I benefit by using hearing aid buds?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are popular. The most widespread benefits include the following:
- No fitting time: Not needing to wait is one of the greatest advantages of hearing aid domes. You can un-box them, put them on your hearing aid and you’re good to go. This is an ideal solution for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. And if you want to demo a hearing aid before you buy it, they’re good for that too. For patients 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: A natural amount of sound can get through some models of hearing aid domes. So you will still be capable of hearing your own voice. You’ll most likely wear your hearing aids more if they sound clear and natural.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t very big, especially when they’re in your ear. In this way, they can be pretty discrete.
- Everything sounds a bit more natural: You can be certain your hearing aids produce a clear, natural sound quality by picking the right type of hearing aid domes. That’s because some sound will still (likely) get through. Once again, this depends on the type of dome, and we will help you with this.
And again, this will mean you’re not as 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 treatment, there are some downsides and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to consider before deciding. Here are a few of the most common:
- They’re not always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be extremely uncomfortable for some people. Some people find this sensation, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, intensely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can get stuck 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 have it removed if this happens.
- Occasionally, 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 suited for hearing aid domes: For instance, if you have profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes may not be the best option for you. Again, the feedback can become an issue 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 bigger and which has more power than the styles commonly associated with hearing aid domes.
So are hearing aid domes for me?
It’s largely a personal decision whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will be able to walk you through all the pros and cons pertaining to your personal hearing health.
For some people, it may be worth waiting the extra couple of weeks for a custom-fit device. Others will create healthy lifelong hearing habits by opting for a solution that lets them begin using their new hearing aids right away.
The nice thing is that you have options.
