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Starkey Occluded Comfort Domes

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Edited

Thanks to Mago for making me aware of these- and in quotes below I cite his prior post.

As I have struggled to get my Resound Double domes to fit me comfortably, I have experimented with the Starkey Occluded Comfort Domes. I do feel they fit securely on my Resound Forte receivers.

These Starkey Comfort Domes have a clever 3 dimensional design that incorporate some of the the attributes of custom molds into domes. They have something of a globe shape and fit over an area in your ear canal (as does a mold) rather than at just the highest point of pressure as does a common double dome.

The fit of these appears to be more critical- and Starkey seems to acknowledge this as these comfort domes are available in 5,6,7,9, & 11 MM sizes (unfortunately no 8 or 10 mm)

As Starkey is the only large US based Hearing Aid company, the online source I could find for these was based in the UK (go figure) . I ordered the 9MM and found them to be VERY comfortable, but ever slightly not snug enough, as I got a lot of feedback. They were so close to fitting me that I knew the size I was truly going to need was a 10 MM size which is not offered.

I ordered the 11mm ones and received them yesterday- and as I feared they are a bit too tight. I have stuffed them into my ears and am trying them at work today- but right now I am afraid I am going to conclude that the 9 mm are too small, and the 11 mm are too big.

By the end of the day I fear I will be back my homemade solution of punching holes is the sides of my Resound Double Domes -still trying to find that elusive comfortable fit.

“Starkey makes Comfort Buds occlude. These domes have 2 tiny holes, and come in a variety of sizes. I wear them on OPN1 P100 receivers. After years of trial & error - slitting, cutting, hole punching, and trying every dome available, my Audi gave me these to try. The absolute best, most physically comfortable solution to date. If the teeny holes get plugged or turn and hit my canal, I get that stopped up feeling. The small amount of venting is perfect for me and consistent from dome to dome. I also wash them daily, unplug the holes with the black plastic wire tool to keep the vents open.”

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I have the Kirkland KS8, which are a Signia/Rexton model, and I’m using the click sleeve, which has a lot of surface area also. They fit good but I’m also between sizes.

Last week I got impressions done for custom molds. I had them on my previous hearing aids and they fit perfect (and deep), and stayed in. That’s my only experience with molds but there were no problems or compromises.

They had the select-a-vent and I experimented and picked the smallest vent that was still comfortable. They fit deep like domes and could not be seen from the outside.

I’m looking forward to getting my new molds in.

@Mago do you feel the comfort dones fit securely on the P100 receiver? I was told by a source (a banned member) that the dones will not fit the receiver properly. I have been struggling with the dome options from oticon and want to try comfort domes on my 85 receivers and feel the 11mm domes are the size I need. Man oh man I miss the great fit I had with phonak.

In reply to @alpine1

Yes, the Starkey Occluded Comfort Domes are very secure on the P100 receivers. They fit perfectly, and are very secure. I remove them daily to wash, replacing them with another clean one. I do not keep track of newer ones vs older ones. There seems to be no difference or change in the shape or fit onto the receivers. One will invert when I pull it out of my ear, but the dome stays securely on the receiver. I have worn Oticon aids for a long time and I have struggled with a good comfortable fit.
I do not know how they fit on the 85 receivers.

I have always cleaned my domes to reduce them from slipping out of my canals and wiggling causing itchiness and irritation. I’m sure I am in the minority. I only mentioned the cleaning to say how secure they continue to fit even after removing, cleaning and replacing back onto the receivers.
Yes the material is different than the Oticon domes - much softer, very comfortable as it seems to be able to flex and relax in the ear canal. The globe shape AdamsHouseCat perfectly described fits deeper into the canal. The material does not require daily cleaning if you don’t already clean your domes.

Edited

The design of these is superior to anything I have tried - a custom dome included. If the 5,6,7,9, or 11mm fits you well then you may well be in luck with these.

The sizing on these is critical. The 9 mm are not quite large enough for me ( I get excessive feedback), and the 11mm’s are too large to stuff into my ear canal without being painful. I clearly need a 10 mm which is not offered.

I contacted Starkey Support from their website (they actually have one and we’re responsive! ) to pass on my praise for the product - yet frustration with the available sizing. They suggested I do “the scissors thing” with the 11mm. I don’t care for that solution as a long term answer.

I wish these domes worked for you - the comfort changed my hearing life. I understand not wanting to slice and dice the domes - I have for years and I hated it. I looked closely at mine. What I will suggest since you have the too big 11mm - try making a small vertical slit at the widest part on the dome. Do not cut all the way to the bottom, because I think that would alter the wonderful globe shape. A small slit may relax it just enough to allow it to seat nicely in your ear. Just a thought…

I tried these instead of the resound medium power domes that were pinching my ears, and I could not tolerate them for more than 7 hours or so. These are far better. Maybe it is my imagination, but I seem to hear better in the high frequencies with these. Why is that?

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