You’ve been putting off calling us to find out if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. You have been resisting this like so many others. But the stress 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 get your custom fit hearing aids, it can be disheartening.
That means that you will be missing some of life’s precious moments for two more weeks. But you could try a basic little device add on called a hearing aid dome instead.
What are hearing aid domes?
They sound kind of epic, right? Like some kind of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythical combat. Only one hearing aid can emerge victorious from the hearing aid dome.
Well, it’s a little less exciting than that. But they are pretty neat. Hearing aid domes are like tiny earbuds that you can put at the end of your hearing aid speaker. Usually made out of silicone or plastic, they attach to the tubing of your hearing aid and fit around the part that goes inside of your ear canal. They’re made for behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal models of hearing aids. And they generally do two things:
- They situate the hearing aid speaker (the bit that you listen to) in an ideal position within your ear canal. And they help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not wiggling around.
- Sometimes, 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 used correctly, hearing aid domes provide you with a bit of extra control and work to improve sound clarity.
Domes for hearing aids look kind of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. There are multiple hearing aid dome types, so we will help you select the one that’s best for your needs.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Open types and closed types each let in different levels of ambient sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different types, including:
Open Domes
With these, more sound is able to pass through little holes in the dome. This helps your ear process natural sounds while still getting the benefit of amplification.
Closed Domes
These domes let less external sound in through fewer and smaller holes. These are better for more advanced hearing loss where ambient noise can be distracting.
Power Domes
Power domes totally block the ear canal and have no venting. This means very little to no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These domes will be ideal for people with extremely severe hearing impairment.
How frequently should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best effect, you should swap out your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears can be a bit unclean in there).
For most people, hearing aid domes can be worn right out of the box. That’s one of the greatest things about them.
How will I benefit by wearing hearing aid buds?
There are numerous reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. The most common benefits include the following:
- The external world sounds more clear and natural: By choosing the best hearing aid dome type, you can ensure that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and enhanced sound clarity. That’s because some sound will still (likely) get in. Again, this depends on the type of dome, and we will help you with this.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: A natural level of sound can get through some types of hearing aid domes. This means you will still be able to hear your own voice as you normally would. You’ll most likely wear your hearing aids more if they sound clear and natural.
- No fitting time: Not needing to wait is one of the greatest benefits of hearing aid domes. You can pop them in and use your hearing aid right away. This is a perfect solution for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. And if you want to try out a hearing aid before you purchase it, they’re great 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.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t that big, particularly when they’re in your ear. They’re pretty discrete in this way.
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?
You’ll want to be mindful of some of the drawbacks and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Here are a few of the most common:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Some individuals are uncomfortable with the feeling of something filling their ear canal. 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 often enough), there’s the chance 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 have it removed if this happens.
- They can sometimes be more prone to feedback: Feedback, though not very common, occasionally does happen. This is especially true for those who are dealing with high-frequency hearing loss.
- Not ideal for all forms 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. Once again, the feedback can become a problem with high frequency hearing loss. For those with profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the problem: you’ll require something that’s larger and which is more powerful than the types typically associated with hearing aid domes.
Should I get hearing aid domes?
It’s mostly a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. We can help but it’s up to you. And we will be able to walk you through all the pros and cons related to your unique hearing health.
Some individuals might do better waiting for a custom fitting. For others, the quick results of hearing aids you can wear today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
The good thing is that you’ve got options.