You’ve been avoiding calling us to find out if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. You’ve been resisting this like so many others. But the inconvenience, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too hard to ignore.
So it’s a little disheartening when you’re sitting in 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 treasured moments for two more weeks. However, there is another option: a deceptively simple device add-on, called hearing aid domes.
What are hearing aid domes?
Doesn’t that sound sort of epic? Like some type of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythical combat. 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 go on the end of your hearing aid speakers like little earbuds. Generally made of plastic or silicone, they fit over that little bit that goes inside 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. Here are the two basic functions:
- They assure that the speaker of the hearing aid is sitting in an optimal position in your ear. And they position the speaker so it won’t move around inside of your ear.
- They can help limit the amount of external sound you hear, especially when that outside sound can impede the function of your hearing aid. When properly used, hearing aid domes provide you with some extra control and work to improve sound quality.
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 best for you from a number of types, and we can assist you in doing 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 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
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 holes. With these, nearly no external sound can get in. These are most practical for extremely profound hearing loss.
How frequently 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 dirty in there).
Hearing aid domes can typically be used right out of the box. That’s one of the best things about them.
How will I benefit by using hearing aid buds?
Hearing aid domes are prevalent for a wide array of reasons. The most widespread benefits include the following:
- Everything sounds a bit more natural: You can be sure your hearing aids create a clear, natural sound quality by picking the right type of hearing aid domes. More than likely, some sound will still get through and that’s the reason for this. We can help you identify the type that’s ideal for you.
- No fitting time: One of the most prominent (and immediate) benefits of hearing aid domes is that you don’t need to wait. You can un-box them, put them on your hearing aid and you’re ready to go. For individuals who don’t want to wait for custom fit hearing aids, it’s the ideal option. It’s also good for individuals who want to try out their hearing aids before they purchase them. With hearing aid domes, patients don’t need to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
- You can hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are designed to let a natural amount of sound get through. This means you can still hear your own voice as you naturally would. This makes the clarity of sound seem much more natural, which means you’re more likely to use your hearing aids far more often.
- 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 rather discrete.
And, again, this means many people are more likely to wear those hearing aids more often.
What are the drawbacks to hearing aid domes?
As with any hearing device or medical procedure, there are some drawbacks and trade-offs to hearing aid domes, trade=offs you’ll want to think about before deciding. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They’re not always comfortable: Some people are uncomfortable with the feeling of something blocking their ear canal. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some individuals can find it intensely unpleasant. Additionally, if you pull your hearing aid dome out too quickly (or don’t clean it often enough), there’s the chance that it may separate from the tubing and get lodged in your ear canal. If this occurs, you’ll most likely need to come see us to get it removed.
- They can sometimes be more prone to feedback: Feedback, though not that common, occasionally does happen. This is especially true for people who have high-frequency hearing loss.
- Some types of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: As an example, hearing aid domes won’t be the ideal option if you have high frequency hearing loss or profound hearing loss. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, once again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s a problem with profound hearing loss: the type of hearing aid typically associated with hearing aid domes is normally not large or powerful enough for this form of hearing loss.
Should I get hearing aid domes?
Inevitably, the choice of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is largely a personal one. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will be able to help you understand all the pros and cons related to your personal hearing health.
Some people may do better waiting for a custom fitting. Others will build healthy lifelong hearing habits by choosing a solution that lets them begin using their new hearing aids right away.
The good thing is that you have options.