Hearing Aid Domes: The Pros and Cons

Hand with thumb up and down on blue background. Yes and no, pros and cons, like and dislike, negative and positive symbol.

You’ve been putting off calling us to find out if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. Like many other people, you’ve been resisting this. But the hassle, the lost moments, the missing interactions, they all finally became too much.

So it’s a bit frustrating when you’re sitting in the hearing specialist’s office and you learn that you’re going to need to wait another two weeks for custom fit hearing aids.

That means that you will be losing 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?

They sound kind of grand, right? Like some type of arena where hearing aids battle in ancient, mythical combat. Welcome to the Hearing Aid Dome: Two hearing aids enter…but only one leaves!

Well, it’s a bit less exciting than that. But they are pretty neat. Hearing aid domes are like little earbuds that you can put at the end of your hearing aid speaker. Typically made of plastic or silicone, they fit around that little part that goes inside 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. And they generally do two things:

  • They guarantee that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an ideal position in your ear. And they help secure 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 stop 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.

Those little bulbs at the end of earbuds are a lot like hearing aid domes. You will have to select the hearing aid dome that’s ideal for you from a number of kinds, and we can assist you in doing that.

Different types of hearing aid domes

Most come in open and closed styles, each letting in more or less background sound.

Hearing aid dome types include:

Open Domes

With these, more sound is capable of passing through little holes in the dome. This helps your ear process ambient sounds while still getting the benefit of amplification.

Closed Domes

As the name indicates, these domes have fewer holes and block more ambient sound than open domes do. For individuals with more significant hearing loss, background noise can be very distracting and this type of dome can help with that.

Power Domes

Power domes completely block the ear canal and have no holes. This means virtually no sound at all can get into the ear canal. These domes will be best for individuals with 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 can be a bit dirty in there).

Hearing aid domes can usually be worn right out of the box. That’s one of the best things about them.

What are the benefits of hearing aid domes?

There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are prevalent. Here are some prevailing benefits:

  • No fitting time: Not needing to wait is one of the best benefits of hearing aid domes. You can un-box them, put them on your hearing aid and you’re ready to go. 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 buy it, they’re good for that too. For people who want results faster, hearing aid domes can provide a way to achieve that without compromising the quality of your sound clarity.
  • You’re able to hear your own voice: Some hearing aid domes are designed to let a natural amount of sound come in. This means you will still be able to hear your own voice as you naturally would. You’re more likely to use your hearing aids more 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 selecting the right type of hearing aid domes. That’s because some sound will still (probably) get in. We can help you identify the type that’s ideal for you.
  • Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes are fairly small, particularly when they’re tucked inside 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 on your nightstand.

Are there 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. Among the most prevalent are the following:

  • They’re not always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be extremely uncomfortable for some people. Hearing specialists call this feeling “occlusion,” and some people can find it intensely uncomfortable. Also, your hearing aid dome can become lodged in your ear if you pull it out too quickly or if you don’t keep it clean. If this occurs, you’ll likely need to come see us to have it removed.
  • Occasionally, they can cause feedback: Feedback isn’t necessarily common, but it can occur. For people who have high frequency hearing loss, this is particularly true.
  • Some types of hearing loss aren’t suited for hearing aid domes: As an illustration, hearing aid domes won’t be the best choice if you have high frequency hearing loss or profound hearing loss. For those with high-frequency hearing loss, once again, it’s the feedback that becomes the problem. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s a problem with profound hearing loss: you’ll require something that’s bigger and which has more power than the types typically associated with hearing aid domes.

Should I use hearing aid domes?

Inevitably, the choice of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is mostly a personal one. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will be able to help you understand all the pros and cons related to your personal hearing health.

Some individuals may do better waiting for a custom fitting. For other people, the immediate results of hearing aids you can wear today will build healthy, lifelong hearing habits.

The good thing is that you’ve got options.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.