“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

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

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is frequently tricky. This is particularly relevant in the realm of hearing aids.

The saying “you get what you pay for” is especially potent with hearing aids. This doesn’t always imply going for the top-tier option, but instead, looking closely at products that boast a price tag too appealing to be authentic. Customers need to recognize that important information is often left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” typically offer limited functionality, mainly amplifying or reducing 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 a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes moving across the floor.

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

Contrastingly, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It reduces background sound while expertly managing sound and maximizing clarity. Real hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

The Food and Drug Administration has written guidelines for those who sell hearing devices and have stringent rules as to what can be called hearing aids.

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

There are lots of legitimate and reputable companies that comply with appropriate marketing. But there are some sellers, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading statements about their products. Some even falsely advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

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

Most people who lose their hearing will gradually lose certain frequencies of sound before others. For example, you might have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but have difficulty with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it challenging to understand.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. However, if you have trouble with specific frequencies, just increasing the volume proves insufficient. And turning up the overall volume could lead to additional damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be roaring in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to increase 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 result of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They typically won’t help you on your cellphone

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when opting for budget options, and this is true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth capability. The lack of Bluetooth becomes critical when thinking about phone connectivity. Trying to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in capturing not just the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair rubbing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.

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’re not designed for individuals with hearing loss

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

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

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. If you suspect you have hearing loss, start by getting checked out. 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!