“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

The term “cheap” carries dual meanings. On the one hand, it implies affordability, a practical choice for a budget-conscious person. Conversely, it implies low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart choice, epitomized by the saying “You get what you pay for”.

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

The saying “you get what you pay for” is particularly potent with hearing aids. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not necessarily opting for the most expensive choice. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices often leave out essential details about their products that consumers should know about.

They usually just amplify sound

Amplifying the overall volume is usually the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. If you boost the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also pick up background noises like 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 entirely defeats the purpose of using a hearing aid.

Contrastingly, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It reduces background sound while expertly managing sound and improving clarity. Authentic hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your specific hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

The Food and Drug Administration has drafted guidelines for companies who sell hearing devices and have strict rules as to what can be labeled hearing aids.

Unfortunately, many personal sound amplification products PSAPs are inaccurately marketed as hearing aids even though they only amplify sound.

There are lots of legit and reputable providers that comply with appropriate marketing. But you might find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that mislead consumers into believing that these devices meet the classification of a hearing aid. You might even find some that state that they’re FDA-approved when that’s actually false.

They aren’t helpful for the majority of types of hearing loss

The majority of people who lose their hearing will gradually lose specific frequencies of sound before others. For example, you might 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 understand.

A cheap hearing device typically results in overall volume amplification. But simply turning up the overall volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a difficult time hearing specific frequencies. And turning the overall volume up could result in added damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t have trouble with will be roaring in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of specific frequencies. They can automatically 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 wiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering 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. When thinking about phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a huge hurdle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears rubbing against 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 sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They aren’t made for individuals with hearing loss

This might come as a shock because so many individuals think otherwise. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were designed to help individuals who have relatively good hearing hear things a bit louder.

Cheap devices might help a little if you only have slight hearing loss. But individuals who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices very helpful.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids isn’t difficult. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. If you suspect 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 level and type of hearing loss, and make sure you get a pair that won’t break the bank!