The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

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

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

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings particularly true. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not automatically opting for the most costly choice. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices often leave out important details about their products that customers should be aware of.

They usually just amplify sound

Amplifying the overall volume is generally 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 moving across the floor.

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

On the other hand, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It expertly manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your distinct hearing requirements, closely simulating natural hearing with better accuracy.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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

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

There are many legit and reputable providers that comply with appropriate marketing. But you may find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that deceive consumers into believing that these devices meet the definition of a hearing aid. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

They aren’t inclusive for the majority of kinds of hearing loss

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

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. However, if you have trouble with certain frequencies, merely boosting the volume will be insufficient. Moreover, turning the volume up significantly to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might result in your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, possibly adding to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for extended periods.

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

You may get a lot of feedback

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. A feedback loop is often the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They typically won’t help you on your cellphone

Functionality is often sacrificed when choosing budget devices, and this is true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth capability. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when thinking about phone connectivity. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips rubbing on the phone, or clothing and hair.

In contrast, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. This state-of-the-art feature ensures that when your daughter talks on the other end, her voice is transmitted directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

The majority of individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were designed to help people who have relatively good hearing hear things a little louder.

If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But they won’t be of much help for individuals who actually need hearing aids.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

Getting affordable quality hearing aids isn’t hard. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. 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 decide what’s best for you, depending on your amount and type of hearing loss, and make certain you get a pair that won’t break the bank!