The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple different ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. For anyone on a small budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, it indicates low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the saying “You get what you pay for”.

Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re getting a really low-quality device can be tricky. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more relevant.

The adage “you get what you pay for” is especially relevant with hearing aids. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not automatically going for the most costly choice. Consumers need to recognize that important information is frequently left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

Amplifying the overall volume is usually the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. If you amplify the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also pick up background noises including 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 completely defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.

On the other hand, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It expertly manages sound, maximizing the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background sound. Authentic hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

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

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

Most reputable providers comply. But you might find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that deceive consumers into thinking that these devices meet the definition of a hearing aid. You may even find some that claim that they’re approved by the FDA when that’s actually false.

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

Most individuals who lose their hearing will slowly lose certain frequencies of sound before others. For example, 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.

A cheap hearing device usually results in overall volume amplification. But simply turning up the total volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a tough time hearing certain frequencies. And turning the overall volume up could result in added damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be roaring in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. They provide a more customized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

Feedback can be a problem

Cheap hearing aids are typically not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is often the consequence of poorly fitting hearing aids. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They usually don’t have cellphone support

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they often sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a major obstacle. Trying to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone leads to 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 challenging to hear the person on the other end.

In contrast, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. This state-of-the-art feature ensures that when your daughter speaks on the other end, her voice is transmitted directly into your hearing aids, improving clarity and overall communication.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

This could come as a shock because so many individuals think otherwise. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.

Cheap devices might help a little if you only have minor hearing loss. But they won’t be of much use for people who actually need hearing aids.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids is not difficult. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing plans, and more affordable brands. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you suspect you may have hearing loss. Call us today for a consultation, we can help figure out what’s best for you, depending on your level and type of hearing loss, and make certain you get a pair that won’t break the bank!

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