“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

The term “cheap” carries dual meanings. On the one hand, it implies affordability, a smart option for a budget-conscious individual. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the term “cheap” implies low-quality hearing aids.

Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great value from whether you’re buying a really low-quality device can be tricky. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings particularly relevant. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically opting for the most expensive option. Consumers need to recognize that important information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They often just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” usually offer minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or decreasing overall volume. 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.

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

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does much more than just crank up the volume. It decreases background noise while skillfully managing sound and maximizing clarity. Authentic hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

There are stringent 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 inaccurately advertised as hearing aids even though they just amplify sound.

The majority of reputable companies comply. But you may find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that deceive consumers into thinking that these devices meet the classification of a hearing aid. You might even find some that state that they are 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 people who lose their hearing will gradually lose specific frequencies of sound before others. For instance, you may have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it difficult to understand.

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

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

Feedback can be a problem

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. A feedback loop is frequently the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They usually don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when choosing budget options, and this is true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth capability. The absence of Bluetooth becomes critical when thinking about phone connectivity. Attempting 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 brushing against the phone, making it even more challenging to hear the person on the other end.

In contrast, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be improved so you can be sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

This could come as a surprise because so many individuals think otherwise. PSAPs were never made for individuals with hearing loss. They were designed to help individuals who have fairly good hearing hear things a little louder.

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

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids is not 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 assessment if you think you might have hearing loss. Call us today for a consultation, we can help decide what’s best for you, depending on your degree and type of hearing loss, and make sure you get a pair that won’t break the bank!