The word “cheap” carries dual meanings. For anyone on a tight budget, it means “affordability”. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this case, the word “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.
Regrettably, distinguishing between an economical purchase and an item of minimal value is often challenging. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more relevant.
The saying “you get what you pay for” is particularly relevant with hearing aids. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not necessarily opting for the most expensive choice. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices often omit important details about their products that consumers should be aware of.
They usually just amplify sound
Cheap “hearing aids” typically offer limited functionality, mainly amplifying or decreasing overall volume. When you merely amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are undesirable background noise you don’t want.
If everything is louder, it entirely defeats the purpose of having a hearing aid.
Contrastingly, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It minimizes background sound while expertly managing sound and maximizing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tuned to your particular hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with better accuracy.
Hearing aids vs. PSAPs
There are strict rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as written by the Food and Drug Administration.
Sadly, there are many devices out there that market themselves as hearing aids when they are actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only amplify sound.
The majority of reputable providers follow the rules. But you might find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that mislead consumers into thinking that these devices meet the definition of a hearing aid. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are approved by the FDA.
For most kinds of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all
The slow loss of hearing frequently involves difficulty with certain frequencies rather than an abrupt complete loss. You may have a difficult time understanding a little kid or a woman, for example, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.
A cheap hearing device usually results in total volume amplification. But just turning up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a hard time hearing specific frequencies. Furthermore, turning the volume up considerably to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may result in your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, potentially adding to hearing loss if exposed to high volumes for prolonged periods.
High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to increase selected frequencies offering a much better solution. 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 might get a lot of feedback
You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. A feedback loop is frequently the consequence of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. This will result in a deafening screech.
They normally won’t help you on your cellphone
When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they often sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. The lack of Bluetooth becomes critical when considering phone connectivity. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips brushing on the phone, or clothing and hair.
In comparison, digital hearing aids use 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 meant to treat hearing loss
The majority of people would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were made 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 they won’t be of much use for individuals who actually need hearing aids.
Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?
There are lots of ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties may cover them. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. If you think you have hearing loss, begin by getting checked out. 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 land a pair that won’t break the bank!
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References
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/hearing-aids