Pros and Cons of Hearing Aids With Domes

There are many little features built into hearing aids that can make living with hearing loss easier, from the microprocessor that filters sound to the tiny telecoil that allows you to tune into loop systems. One feature, in particular, that affects the design of your hearing aids, the way they fit, and how things sound is hearing aid domes.

What Are Hearing Aid Domes

A hearing aid dome is a bell-shaped piece of plastic which is attached to the end of a hearing aid’s tube. The style of hearing aids that come with hearing aid domes are usually called Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) or Receiver-In-The-Ear (RITE) since the receiver of the hearing aid will rest inside of your ear canal when properly inserted.

Our hearing health care professionals here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas can work with you to determine the length of the hearing aid tubing as well as the shape of the hearing aid domes. Also, since the domes are designed to provide greater sound clarity, our hearing instrument specialists will work with you to determine what size and type of hearing aid domes are best for your needs.

Two Types Of Hearing Aid Domes

There are two different types of hearing aid domes, and the style you choose can alter the sound quality of your hearing aids.

Closed-style dome – With a closed-style dome, the hearing aid dome is one whole piece of plastic that surrounds the receive and is inserted into your ear canal. The uninterrupted shape of the dome helps to block out inconsequential sounds and boost the sound level of your hearing aids and this style of hearing aid dome is often recommended for those who suffer from severe hearing loss.

However, closed-style domes can leave the wearer feeling occluded—like their ears are blocked and some sounds can seem hollow-sounding.

Open-style dome – With an open-style dome, you have multiple openings along the body of the hearing aid dome. These openings help prevent the occlusion you can struggle with closed hearing aid domes while still providing amplified sound. This style of hearing aid dome is good for mild-to-moderately-severe hearing loss.

With either style of the domes, you should be able to have a custom hearing aid dome made to help improve the fit. Be sure to talk to our hearing aid specialists about it if you are interested in this option.

Potential Pros And Cons Of Hearing Aid Domes

Now that you understand what hearing aid domes are and what options are available, it is essential that you know the potential pros and cons. That way, you can make a fully informed decision.

Hearing Aid Dome Pros

• Boosts sounds and frequency range – Whether you opt for open or closed hearing aid domes, you can enjoy boosted sounds and greater frequency range detection without dealing with acoustic feedback.
• Easy to clean – As long as you have no issue with your fine-motor skills, cleaning your hearing aid domes is as easy, as all you need to do is wipe them down with a soft cloth.
• Inexpensive to replace – Since hearing aid domes are just small pieces of molded plastic, they are very inexpensive and can be replaced cheaply.

Hearing Aid Domes Cons

• Need to be replaced regularly – Generally, hearing aid domes need to be replaced every 2-3 months, as they are susceptible to moisture and water damage.
• Can be difficult to handle – For those who have issues with dexterity, the small size of the hearing aid domes can be troublesome, especially when it comes to cleaning them.
• Dome can become stuck – If you are in a hurry and tug too sharply on your hearing aid tubing to remove your hearing aid dome, it can disconnect from the tubing and become stuck. Once the hearing aid dome has become lodged in your ear, you may need the help of our specialists to get it out.

If you would like personalized help in figuring out what hearing aids are right for your level of hearing loss and your lifestyle needs, then you should get in contact with us here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas.