There are a couple different ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. For someone on a small budget, it means “affordability”. On the other hand, it indicates low-quality, turning a seemingly economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the saying “You get what you pay for”.
Regrettably, differentiating between a thrifty purchase and an item of minimal value is often challenging. This is particularly relevant in terms of hearing aids.
With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” is especially relevant. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not necessarily going for the most costly choice. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices often omit essential details about their products that consumers should be aware of.
Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers
Cheap “hearing aids” usually provide minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or decreasing overall volume. When you simply amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are undesirable background noise you don’t want.
If everything is louder, it entirely defeats the purpose of having a hearing aid.
On the other hand, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It skillfully manages sound, enhancing the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background sound. Genuine hearing aids are tuned to your specific hearing needs, closely simulating natural hearing with better accuracy.
PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids
The Food and Drug Administration has written guidelines for companies who sell hearing devices and have stringent rules as to what can be labeled hearing aids.
Unfortunately, many personal sound amplification products PSAPs are inaccurately advertised as hearing aids even though they only amplify sound.
Most reputable providers follow the rules. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that might be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading statements about their products. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are FDA-approved.
They aren’t inclusive for the majority of kinds of hearing loss
The gradual loss of hearing usually involves difficulty with specific frequencies instead of an abrupt complete loss. You may 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.
You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply cranking up the overall volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a tough time hearing specific frequencies. And turning up the overall volume could result in added damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be booming in your ears.
High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of specific frequencies. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more tailored and effective hearing experience.
You might get a lot of feedback
Cheap hearing aids are typically not custom fit to your ears. 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
Functionality is frequently sacrificed when choosing budget options, and this holds true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when thinking about phone connectivity. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try 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. 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 meant to treat hearing loss
The majority of people would probably be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were made to help individuals who have relatively good hearing hear things a little louder.
If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But they won’t be of much help for individuals who actually need hearing aids.
Finding quality, affordable hearing aids
Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids isn’t hard. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. You can also find financing options, leasing plans, and more affordable brands. The first step is to get a hearing test if you suspect you may have hearing loss. Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you get the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.
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References
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/hearing-aids