You’ve been avoiding calling us to see if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. Like many, you’ve been resisting this. But the hassle, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too hard to ignore.
So it’s a little discouraging when you’re at 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’s another two weeks struggling with those lost moments before you can begin getting them back. However, there is another option: a deceptively simple device add-on, known as hearing aid domes.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
They sound sort of epic, right? Like some type of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythological combat. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a little less exciting than that. They are rather cool though. Hearing aid domes are like tiny earbuds that you can place at the end of your hearing aid speaker. Usually made of silicone or plastic, they connect to the tubing of your hearing aid and fit on the part that goes into your ear canal. You can use them on both behind-the-ear and in-ear models. Here are the two basic functions:
- They situate the hearing aid speaker (the bit that you listen to) in the most effective position within your ear canal. And they help secure the speaker in place. That way it’s not moving around.
- They can help limit the amount of external sound you hear, especially when that outside sound can impede the functionality of your hearing aid. Hearing aid domes work to enhance the sound clarity and provide an extra bit of control when used properly.
Domes for hearing aids look sort of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. There are several hearing aid dome types, so we will help you select the one that’s best for your needs.
What is the difference between hearing aid domes?
Most come in open and closed designs, each letting in more or less ambient sound.
Hearing aid dome types include:
Open Domes
With these, more sound is able to pass through little holes in the dome. You get the benefit of amplification while still being able to process external sounds.
Closed Domes
As the name suggests, these domes have fewer openings and block more ambient sound than open domes do. These are better for more pronounced hearing loss where background noise can be distracting.
Power Domes
Power domes don’t have any holes and totally block external sounds. With these, almost no external sound can get in. These domes will be best for people with extremely severe hearing impairment.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
Every two to three months will be the best schedule for changing your hearing aid domes (your ears aren’t the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
For most individuals, hearing aid domes can be worn right out of the box. In fact, that’s one of their biggest benefits.
How will I benefit by using hearing aid buds?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. The most widespread benefits include the following:
- The outside world sounds more clear and natural: You can be certain your hearing aids create a clear, natural sound quality by picking the right type of hearing aid domes. That’s because some sound will still (probably) get in. Once again, this depends on the style of dome, and we can help you with this.
- No fitting time: One of the most popular (and immediate) benefits of hearing aid domes is that you don’t need to wait. You can put them in and wear your hearing aid right away. For individuals who don’t want to wait for custom fit hearing aids, it’s the best solution. And if you want to try out a hearing aid before you buy it, they’re great for that too. With hearing aid domes, patients don’t have to sacrifice sound clarity to get faster results.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t very big, especially when they’re in your ear. They’re rather discrete in this way.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: A natural amount of sound can get through some models of hearing aid domes. This means you can still hear your own voice as you naturally would. This makes the clarity of sound feel a lot more natural, which means you’re likely to use your hearing a great deal more often.
And, again, this means many individuals are more likely to wear those hearing aids more often.
What are the downsides to hearing aid domes?
You’ll want to be aware of some of the downsides and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Here are a few of the most prevalent:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Some people are uncomfortable with the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some individuals can find it intensely unpleasant. In addition, if you pull your hearing aid dome out too fast (or don’t clean it frequently enough), there’s the chance that it may separate from the tubing and get stuck in your ear canal. If this happens, you’ll most likely need to come see us to get it removed.
- Sometimes, they can cause feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily typical, but it does occur. This is especially true for individuals who have high-frequency hearing loss.
- Not ideal for all types of hearing loss: For example, if you have profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes might not be the best solution for you. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, once 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 problem: you’ll need something that’s bigger and which has more power than the styles commonly associated with hearing aid domes.
Should I use hearing aid domes?
Ultimately, the decision of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is mostly a personal one. We can help but it’s your choice. And we will look at your specific needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
For some people, it might 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 start using their new hearing aids immediately.
You’ve got options and that’s the good thing.
