The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple different ways to think about the word “cheap hearing aids”. On the one hand, it signifies affordability, a practical choice for a budget-conscious person. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this case, the word “cheap” suggests low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, distinguishing between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is frequently challenging. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more true.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings particularly relevant. This doesn’t necessarily imply opting for the top-tier option, but rather, scrutinizing products that boast a price tag too tempting to be genuine. Customers need to be aware that essential information is often left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They usually just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” usually provide minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or decreasing overall volume. If you boost the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also get background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house slippers moving across the floor.

If everything is louder, it completely defeats the purpose of having a hearing aid.

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than simply crank up the volume. It reduces background sound while skillfully managing sound and improving clarity. Real hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your specific hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

There are strict rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as published by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sadly, there are many devices out there that are advertised as hearing aids when they’re actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only amplify sound.

The majority of reputable companies comply. But there are some vendors, especially online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even falsely advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

For the majority of types of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all

The slow loss of hearing often involves trouble hearing certain frequencies instead of an abrupt complete loss. For instance, you might have no trouble hearing a man with a low voice, but have difficulty with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it challenging to understand.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply turning up the total volume will not be sufficient for people who have a tough time hearing specific frequencies. Furthermore, turning up the volume significantly to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might result in your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially contributing to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of specific frequencies. They can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more customized and effective hearing experience.

Feedback can be a problem

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll generate a feedback loop. As the speaker in your ear wiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They typically won’t help you on your cellphone

When individuals are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when thinking about phone connectivity. Attempting to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in capturing not only the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair rubbing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.

On the other hand, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be enhanced so you can be sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

Most individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for people who have relatively good hearing.

If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But they won’t be of much use for people who actually need hearing aids.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. The first step is to get a hearing test if you think you may have hearing loss. Call us today for a consultation, we can help decide what’s best for you, depending on your level and type of hearing loss, and make certain you land a pair that won’t break the bank!

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