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Power Dome vs Micro Mold

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Hi: I am new user and am about three weeks into a Oticon Dual on one ear only. My loss is consistenty moderate across the entire frequency range. My audi set me up with a micro mold but when it had to be sent off for a few days to have some kind of coating applied to keep it from slipping out of my ear, he gave me some power domes. I think that I like them and they may even be more comfortable than the micro mold. I am in so many different settings every day right now that I have no consistent base for deciding which is working better. I’d be grateful to hear about your thoughts or experience on the power dome vs micro mold? Thanks - Phil

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Hi Phil,
I don’t have anything to add. Just new to the forum and to trying to get better results from my . I’ve worn hearing aids for 9 years or so, and have always had a problem with the ear mold or is more correct to say domes staying in. I started with cics and when they no longer worked, moved to a mini-bte. Have had the m-btes for almost two years and the past 6 months I have had to constantly ‘push’ the molds back in my ears.

Frustrating.

I’d be interested in why you think the power domes work better. Or is it fit better. And just what is a power dome?

I can’t believe I am so ignorant to have been a ‘wearer’ for so long. I think it is the isolation factor that I get into about hearing.

@RockyTop said:

I’d be interested in why you think the power domes work better. Or is it fit better. And just what is a power dome?

I can’t believe I am so ignorant to have been a ‘wearer’ for so long. I think it is the isolation factor that I get into about hearing.

I tryed powerdome with delta nad epoq… its almost no difference with feeling than tulip dome. Much better than having cic in ear :slight_smile:

Its interersting that fitting software never offer powerdome with duals. open/tulip/mold. But it can be selected and software will adopt to using power with duals. Why is that, I dont know.

Power dome is rubber universal dome for .
This one is phonak model… http://www.hearingchecktoday.co.uk/images/products/61_main.jpg19

I have to say that most of my patients have preferred the power domes to the custom moulds. There will be some cases that need the tighter fit you can get with a custom mould, but I tend to go with the domes.

Totally agree Ben.

If a plastic dome won’t work, I find a custom dome will fit even less well.

Thanks for this info guys. I really like my audi and appreciate his attention but am happy to hear other opinions as well. He is quite young and the gift of a site like this is the collective experience. I wil pop off the micro mold tonight and play with teh power domes this week. Thanks again - Phil

I guess power domes are better than micro mold but i feel it depends on the fitting and preference.Some people prefer micro mold and find it better than power domes.eventually it depends on people preference.
…

In reply to @RockyTop

@RockyTop said:

I’ve worn hearing aids for 9 years or so, and have always had a problem with the ear mold or is more correct to say domes staying in. I started with cics and when they no longer worked, moved to a mini-bte. Have had the m-btes for almost two years and the past 6 months I have had to constantly ‘push’ the molds back in my ears.

I saw my audiologist last week, and complained about having to push my left mold in multiple times a day. He changed it to a 1/8 inch longer tube, and problem solved.

Edited

I tried the standard, tulip and power domes and finally switched to Micro mold acrylic molds with a canal hook. They go in the same way each time, never move around, come out easy when I want them to and are easy to keep clean.

Strangely, the hard custom molded plastic is more comfortable than the universal rubber or even custom rubber molds (for me at least).

Both my Agile Pro Minis and Audeo S IX’s are fitted with vented custom acrylic molds. I am really happy with them, however they are a bit more noticeable in my ears.


Nowadays (thanks to the excellent feedback managers available in newer hearing aid models) earmolds and/or power domes are often only necessary for patients with moderate or worse low frequency losses. Most patients with only high frequency losses can be fit with air-domes or other open-fit styles that do not seal the ear canal.

This means that if you’re being fit with power domes or earmolds the reason for doing so is most likely to allow the hearing aid to provide enough low frequency amplification to meet your needs. Most patients interpret this low frequency amplification as “volume” (whereas high frequency amplification would feel more like “crispness”). If you feel the power domes are providing a similar level of “volume” to the micromolds, you’re not having a problem with them working out of the ear, and they’re not giving you any feedback problems then you should be okay with them.

When either is required, I often err on the side of fitting with molds VS domes with my older patients due to a number of other considerations. When I’m working with someone younger or someone with good dexterity who doesn’t mind a little added complexity I may try using power domes first and see if the fit is sufficient. With earmolds you can be fairly confident they’ll stay in place and offer an effective solution. With power domes they work great when they stay in the ear and seal off the canal just right, but can create a lot of problems when this isn’t the case.

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