“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

There are a couple different ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. On the one hand, it indicates affordability, a wise choice for a budget-conscious individual. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the word “cheap” implies low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is often challenging. This is particularly relevant in terms of hearing aids.

The adage “you get what you pay for” is particularly relevant with hearing aids. This doesn’t necessarily imply picking the top-tier option, but rather, scrutinizing products that boast a price tag too appealing to be legitimate. Consumers need to be aware that important information is frequently left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

Cheaper hearing aids are pretty much only amplifiers

Cheap “hearing aids” typically offer minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or reducing overall volume. When you just amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are undesirable background sounds you don’t want.

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 contrast, does much more than simply crank up the volume. It reduces background sound while expertly managing sound and improving clarity. Real hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

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

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

There are many legit and reputable companies that comply with appropriate marketing. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that might be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even inaccurately advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

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

The majority of individuals who lose their hearing will slowly lose specific frequencies of sound before others. For example, you might have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it challenging to comprehend.

A cheap hearing device typically results in overall volume amplification. But just turning up the overall volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a tough time hearing specific 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 booming in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. They can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more tailored and reliable hearing experience.

You may get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is often the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They typically won’t help you on your cellphone

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when considering phone connectivity. Trying to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in 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.

On the other hand, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the 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

Most individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.

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

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Getting affordable quality hearing aids is not hard. They may even be covered by insurance or other third parties. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing programs, 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 decide what’s best for you, depending on your level and type of hearing loss, and make sure you land a pair that won’t break the bank!