The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple separate ways to think about the word “cheap hearing aids”. For someone on a tight budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, it conveys low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the adage “You get what you pay for”.

Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great value from whether you’re getting a really low-quality device can be tricky. This is particularly relevant in terms 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” range, not necessarily opting for the most costly choice. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices often omit essential details about their products that customers should be aware of.

They typically just amplify sound

Amplifying the overall volume is usually the only thing cheap “hearing aids” are capable of. When you simply amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are unwanted background noise you don’t want.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is totally defeated if it also amplifies unwanted sound.

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does much more than just crank up the volume. It decreases background noise while skillfully managing sound and enhancing clarity. Real hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your particular hearing needs.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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.

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

There are lots of legit and reputable providers 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 as a result, they put out misleading statements about their products. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are FDA-approved.

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

The majority of individuals who lose their hearing will gradually lose certain frequencies of sound before others. You may have a hard time understanding a little kid or a woman, for example, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But, if you struggle with specific frequencies, just boosting the volume proves insufficient. Furthermore, turning the volume up substantially to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might result in your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially contributing to hearing loss if exposed to high volumes for prolonged periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost selected frequencies offering a much better solution. They provide a more customized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

Feedback can be a problem

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll create a feedback loop. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They typically won’t help you on your cellphone

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a significant hurdle. Attempting to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone leads to capturing not only 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.

In contrast, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the 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 made for people with hearing loss

Most people would most likely be surprised by this. PSAPs were never designed for individuals with hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for individuals who have relatively good hearing.

If you have very slight hearing loss then cheap devices may help a little. But individuals who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices that helpful.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Getting affordable quality hearing aids is not difficult. Insurance or other third parties may cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing options. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you suspect you might have hearing loss. Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you get the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.

References

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/hearing-aids