You’ve been avoiding 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 stress of living life without being able to hear has finally become too much.
So when you do finally come in and then you find out that you will still have to wait another couple of weeks before you obtain your custom fit hearing aids, it can be discouraging.
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 called a hearing aid dome instead.
What exactly is a hearing aid dome?
Doesn’t that sound kind of epic? Like some kind of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythical combat. Welcome to the Hearing Aid Dome: Two hearing aids enter…but only one leaves!
Well, it’s a little less thrilling than that. They are pretty cool though. Hearing aid domes are like little 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 on the part that goes into your ear canal. They’re made for both 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 help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not wiggling around.
- On occasion, outside sound can impede the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help avoid that by regulating the amount of outside sound. Hearing aid domes work to improve the sound clarity and offer an extra bit of control when used properly.
Domes for hearing aids look kind 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 types, each letting in more or less ambient sound.
Hearing aid dome models include:
Open Domes
These have openings in the dome that allow more outside sound to pass through and into your ears. You get the advantage 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 advanced hearing loss where background noise can be a distraction.
Power Domes
Power domes don’t have any holes and completely block external sounds. With these, nearly no external sound can get in. These domes will be best for people with very severe hearing loss.
How often should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best results, you should change your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears can be a bit unclean in there).
Hearing aid domes can usually be used 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 popular. The most widespread advantages include the following:
- 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 pretty discrete.
- No fitting time: One of the most prominent (and immediate) advantages 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 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, you don’t have to sacrifice sound clarity to get quicker results.
- You can hear your own voice: A natural amount of sound can get through some types of hearing aid domes. So you will still be able to hear your own voice. You’ll most likely wear your hearing aids more often if they sound clear and natural.
- Everything sounds a little more natural: You can be certain your hearing aids produce a clear, natural sound quality by picking the right type of hearing aid domes. More than likely, some sound will still get in and that’s the reason for this. We can help you determine the kind that’s ideal for you.
And again, this will mean you’re less likely to leave your hearing aid sitting in a drawer.
Are there 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. Among the most prevalent are the following:
- They can sometimes be uncomfortable: Having something plugging the ear canal can be very unpleasant for some individuals. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some people can find it extremely 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 might separate from the tubing and get lodged in your ear canal. If this happens, you’ll likely need to come see us to have it removed.
- They can sometimes be more prone to feedback: Feedback, though not that common, sometimes does happen. For people who have high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: As an illustration, 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 an issue with high frequency hearing loss. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s an issue with profound hearing loss: you’ll need something that’s larger and which is more powerful than the types typically associated with hearing aid domes.
So are hearing aid domes right for me?
It’s largely a personal decision whether you use hearing aid domes. We can help but it’s your choice. And we will look at your individual needs and help advise you on the pros and cons.
Some individuals might be better off waiting for a custom fitting. For other people, the immediate results of hearing aids you can use today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
You’ve got options and that’s the good thing.
