There are a couple different ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. On the one hand, it signifies affordability, a smart option for a budget-conscious person. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the term “cheap” suggests low-quality hearing aids.
Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great value from whether you’re buying a really low-quality device can be tricky. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more true.
With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” is especially relevant. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically opting for the most expensive choice. Customers need to be aware that essential information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.
They usually just amplify sound
Increasing 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 pick up background noises including the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes going across the floor.
If everything is louder, it totally defeats the purpose of having a hearing aid.
Contrastingly, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your specific hearing needs, closely mimicking natural hearing with greater accuracy.
PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids
There are stringent 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 are advertised as hearing aids when they’re actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named such because they can only amplify sound.
The majority of reputable providers comply. 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 falsely advertise that they are approved by the FDA.
For most kinds of hearing loss they won’t be helpful at all
The majority of people who lose their hearing will slowly lose specific frequencies of sound before others. You may have a difficult time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.
You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But, if you have trouble with specific frequencies, just increasing the volume will be insufficient. Moreover, turning up the volume 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 extended periods.
High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of particular frequencies. They provide a more personalized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.
You may get a lot of feedback
You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll create a feedback loop. As the speaker in your ear wiggles 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 holds true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when considering phone connectivity. Trying to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone leads to capturing not just the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair brushing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.
More advanced hearing aids are digital and utilize Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. Overall communication and clarity will be enhanced so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.
They’re not designed for people with hearing loss
The majority of people would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for individuals who have fairly good hearing.
Cheap devices might help a little if you only have slight hearing loss. But they won’t be of much help for individuals who actually need hearing aids.
Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?
There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. 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 test if you think you might have hearing loss. Call us today for a consultation, we can help figure out what’s best for you, depending on your degree and type of hearing loss, and make certain 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