“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

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

Unfortunately, deciding if you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re getting a very low-quality device can be challenging. This is especially relevant in the realm of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings especially valid. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not necessarily opting for the most expensive option. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices frequently leave out important details about their products that customers should know about.

They typically just amplify sound

Amplifying the overall volume is typically the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. If you boost the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also get background noises including the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house slippers going across the floor.

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

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than simply turn up the volume. It expertly manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background sound. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your specific hearing requirements, closely simulating natural hearing with greater accuracy.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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

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

Most reputable companies follow the rules. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that may 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 falsely advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

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

The gradual loss of hearing frequently involves difficulty with particular frequencies rather than an abrupt total loss. For example, you may 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 comprehend.

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply cranking up the overall volume will not be sufficient for people 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 have trouble with will be booming in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost selected frequencies offering a much better solution. They provide a more personalized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

You might get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is frequently the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. As the speaker in your ear wiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. This will generate a deafening screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is often sacrificed when choosing budget devices, and this holds true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth capability. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when considering phone connectivity. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears brushing on 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 improved so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

The majority of individuals would probably be surprised by this. PSAPs were never designed for people with hearing loss. They were made to help people who have fairly good hearing hear things a bit louder.

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

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids isn’t difficult. They may 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 think you might have hearing loss. Make an appointment with us so we can help you find the best and most affordable hearing aids for your degree and type of hearing loss.