After months (possibly even years) of waiting, you’ve finally resolved to contact us to see if you should get hearing aids. You have been resisting this like so many other people. But the inconvenience, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too much.
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 disheartening.
That’s another two weeks dealing with those lost moments before you can begin getting them back. However, there is another alternative: a deceptively simple device add-on, called hearing aid domes.
What are hearing aid domes?
Doesn’t that sound kind of epic? Like some type of arena where hearing aids battle in ancient, mythological combat. Only one hearing aid can come forth victorious from the hearing aid dome.
It’s not really that exciting. But they are pretty neat. Hearing aid domes are like little earbuds that you can put at the end of your hearing aid speaker. Generally made of plastic or silicone, they fit over that little bit that goes in your ear canal, attaching 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 guarantee that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an optimal position in your ear. And they help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not moving around.
- On occasion, external sound can interfere with the sound of your hearing aid and hearing aid domes help stop that by controlling the amount of outside sound. Hearing aid domes work to improve the sound clarity and offer an extra bit of control when used correctly.
Domes for hearing aids look sort of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. There are several hearing aid dome styles, so we will help you choose 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 background sound.
Hearing aid domes come in different kinds, including:
Open Domes
With these, more sound is capable of passing through little holes in the dome. You get the advantage of amplification while still being able to process outside sounds.
Closed Domes
These domes let less outside sound in through fewer and smaller holes. For individuals with more significant hearing loss, background noise can be really distracting and this type of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes totally block the ear canal and have no holes. This means virtually no sound at all can pass into the ear canal. These are most effective for extremely severe hearing loss.
How often should you change your hearing aid domes?
For best results, you should swap out your hearing aid domes every 2-3 months (your ears are not the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
Hearing aid domes can usually be worn right out of the box. In fact, that’s one of their primary advantages.
How will I benefit by wearing hearing aid buds?
Hearing aid domes are prevalent for a wide variety of reasons. The most widespread benefits include the following:
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are pretty small, especially when they’re tucked into your ear. They’re pretty discrete in this way.
- 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, pop 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. It’s also good for people who want to demo their hearing aids before they buy them. For people who want faster results, hearing aid domes can provide a way to achieve that without compromising the quality of your sound clarity.
- Everything sounds a little more natural: You can be certain 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 in and that’s the reason for this. We can help you determine the kind that’s best for you.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are designed to let a natural level of sound come in. So you will still be capable of hearing your own voice. You’ll most likely wear your hearing aids more if they sound clear and natural.
And again, this will mean you’re not as likely to leave your hearing aid sitting on your nightstand.
What are the downsides 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 consider before making a decision. Among the most prevalent are the following:
- They can sometimes be uncomfortable: Some individuals don’t like the feeling of something filling their ear canal. Some people find this sensation, called “occlusion” by hearing specialist, extremely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can get stuck in your ear if you pull it out too quickly or if you don’t keep it clean. You’ll most likely need to come in and see us to have it removed if this happens.
- Sometimes, they can cause feedback: Feedback, though not really common, sometimes does occur. For people who are dealing with high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Some forms of hearing loss aren’t suitable for hearing aid domes: For example, if you are suffering from profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes might not be the preferred option for you. For people with high-frequency hearing loss, again, it’s the feedback that becomes the issue. For individuals who have profound hearing loss, it’s really the hearing aid itself that’s the issue: the type of hearing aid typically associated with hearing aid domes is normally not large or powerful enough for this type of hearing loss.
Should I get hearing aid domes?
It’s largely a personal choice whether you use hearing aid domes. It’s up to you but we can help. And we will be able to help you understand all the pros and cons pertaining to your unique hearing health.
Some individuals may do better waiting for a custom fitting. For other people, the quick results of hearing aids you can wear today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.
The nice thing is that you’ve got options.