The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The term “cheap” carries dual meanings. For somebody 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.

Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great value from whether you’re buying a really low-quality device can be difficult. This is particularly relevant in the realm of hearing aids.

The saying “you get what you pay for” is especially potent with hearing aids. This doesn’t necessarily mean going for the top-tier option, but instead, scrutinizing offerings that boast a price tag too appealing to be genuine. Customers need to recognize that important information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

Boosting 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 get background noises including the dishwasher, a fan in another room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes going across the floor.

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

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does a lot more than just turn the volume up. It decreases background noise while expertly managing sound and maximizing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your particular hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with increased accuracy.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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

Regrettably, there are many devices out there that market themselves as hearing aids when they are technically personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only amplify sound.

The majority of reputable providers comply. But there are some sellers, especially 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 inaccurately advertise that they are FDA-approved.

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

The progressive loss of hearing often involves difficulty with particular frequencies instead of an abrupt complete loss. For instance, you may have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but have difficulty with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it challenging to comprehend.

A cheap hearing device usually results in overall volume amplification. But simply cranking up the total volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a hard time hearing specific frequencies. And turning the overall volume up could result in additional damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be roaring in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of particular frequencies. They provide a more customized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

You might 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. 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 don’t have cellphone support

When individuals are looking for a budget-friendly device, they often sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. The lack of Bluetooth becomes critical when considering phone connectivity. Attempting to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in capturing not just 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 comparison, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be improved so you can be sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They’re not designed for people with hearing loss

This could come as a surprise because so many people think otherwise. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for people who have relatively good hearing.

If you have very slight hearing loss then cheap devices may help a little. But people 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 hard. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing possibilities. 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 degree and type of hearing loss, and make certain you get a pair that won’t break the bank!