After months (possibly even years) of waiting, you’ve finally resolved to give us a call to see if you should get hearing aids. You’ve been resisting this like so many others. But the difficulty of going through life without being able to hear has finally become too hard to ignore.
So when you do finally come in and then you find out that you will still need to wait another two weeks before you obtain your custom fit hearing aids, it can be frustrating.
That means that you will be missing some of life’s treasured moments for two more weeks. But you could try a simple little device add on known as a hearing aid dome instead.
What are hearing aid domes?
They sound sort of epic, right? 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 are like little earbuds that you can put on the end of your hearing aid speaker. Generally made of plastic or silicone, they fit over that little part that goes in your ear canal, connecting to the tubing of your hearing aid. You can use them on both behind-the-ear and in-ear models. Here are the two basic functions:
- They assure that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an optimal position in your ear. And they secure the speaker so it won’t jiggle around inside of your ear.
- They can help control the amount of outside sound you hear, particularly when that external sound can interfere with the function of your hearing aid. When used correctly, hearing aid domes offer you some extra control and work to improve sound clarity.
Those small bulbs at the end of earbuds are a lot like hearing aid domes. There are several hearing aid dome styles, so we will help you select the one that’s best for your situation.
What is the difference between hearing aid domes?
Open types and closed types each let in different levels of background sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different types, including:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more natural sound to get through and into your ears. You get the benefit 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 ambient noise can be distracting.
Power Domes
Power domes have no holes and completely block external sounds. This means very little to no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These are most effective for very severe hearing loss.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best results, you should change your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears are not the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
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 wearing hearing aid buds?
Hearing aid domes are popular for a wide array of reasons. Here are some prevailing advantages:
- 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 rather discrete.
- The external world sounds more clear and natural: By finding the right hearing aid dome type, you can ensure that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and enhanced sound clarity. Most likely, some sound will still get in and that’s the reason for this. We can help you identify the kind that’s ideal for you.
- You can hear your own voice: A natural level of sound can get through some models of hearing aid domes. So you will still be capable of hearing your own voice. This makes the clarity of sound seem much more natural, which means you’re more likely to wear your hearing a great deal more often.
- No fitting time: Not needing to wait is one of the best benefits of hearing aid domes. You can pop them in and wear your hearing aid immediately. This is an ideal solution for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. It’s also great for people who want to demo their hearing aids before they purchase them. With hearing aid domes, you don’t have to sacrifice sound clarity to get faster results.
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?
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 think about before making a decision. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be extremely unpleasant for some individuals. Some people find this feeling, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, intensely uncomfortable. In addition, if you take your hearing aid dome out too fast (or don’t clean it frequently enough), there’s the possibility that it might 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 isn’t necessarily common, but it can occur. This is especially true for individuals who are dealing with high-frequency hearing loss.
- Not suitable for all forms of hearing loss: For instance, if you have profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes might not be the best option for you. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. For people with profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the issue: you’ll need something that’s bigger and which is more powerful than the types commonly associated with hearing aid domes.
Should I use hearing aid domes?
It’s largely a personal decision whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s up to you but we can help. And we will look at your specific needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
Some people may do better waiting for a custom fitting. For other people, the quick results of hearing aids you can use today will create healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
The good thing is that you’ve got options.