The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The term “cheap” has dual meanings. On the one hand, it indicates affordability, a sensible choice for a budget-conscious individual. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this case, the word “cheap” suggests low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between a thrifty purchase and an item of negligible value is often challenging. This is particularly true in the realm of hearing aids.

The adage “you get what you pay for” is particularly relevant with hearing aids. This doesn’t necessarily imply opting for the top-tier option, but instead, scrutinizing products that boast a price tag too appealing to be legitimate. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices often leave out essential details about their products that consumers should be aware of.

Cheaper hearing aids are pretty much only amplifiers

Cheap “hearing aids” typically offer limited 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 another room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes going across the floor.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is entirely defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than just turn the volume up. It minimizes background sound while skillfully managing sound and improving clarity. Genuine hearing aids are tuned to your particular hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with increased accuracy.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

The Food and Drug Administration has written guidelines for those who sell hearing devices and have strict rules as to what can be called hearing aids.

Unfortunately, many personal sound amplification products PSAPs are inaccurately marketed as hearing aids even though they just amplify sound.

The majority of reputable providers follow the rules. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that might be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even inaccurately advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

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

The majority of individuals who lose their hearing will slowly lose particular frequencies of sound before others. You might have a difficult time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no issue understanding a man with a low voice.

A cheap hearing device usually results in total volume amplification. But simply cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for people who have a difficult time hearing certain frequencies. And turning the overall volume up could lead to additional damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t have trouble with will be roaring in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost particular frequencies offering a much better solution. 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 an issue

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll create a feedback loop. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will result in a deafening screech.

They usually don’t have cellphone support

When individuals are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a significant hurdle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears brushing against the phone, or clothing and hair.

More advanced hearing aids are digital and use Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. This state-of-the-art feature ensures that when your daughter speaks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, improving clarity and overall communication.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

The majority of people would most likely be surprised by this. PSAPs were never made for individuals with hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.

If you have very slight hearing loss then cheap devices may help a little. But people who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices very helpful.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing options. If you think you have hearing loss, start by getting checked out. Make an appointment with us so we can help you find the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.

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