“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

There are a couple separate ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. On the one hand, it implies affordability, a practical choice for a budget-conscious individual. Conversely, it implies low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart choice, epitomized by the adage “You get what you pay for”.

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is often tricky. This is particularly relevant in terms of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” is particularly true. This doesn’t always imply going for the top-tier option, but instead, scrutinizing products that boast a price tag too tempting to be genuine. Customers need to recognize that essential information is often excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” generally offer minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or reducing overall volume. When you just amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are unwanted background sounds 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 comparison, does a lot more than just turn up the volume. It expertly manages sound, maximizing the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Authentic hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your specific hearing needs.

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.

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

There are lots of legit and reputable providers that comply with correct marketing. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

They’re not helpful for most types of hearing loss

Most people who lose their hearing will slowly lose certain frequencies of sound before others. For instance, you might have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it difficult to understand.

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But just turning up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a difficult time hearing certain frequencies. Moreover, turning the volume up significantly to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might result in your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially adding to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for prolonged periods.

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, providing a more customized and effective hearing experience.

Feedback can be an issue

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. A feedback loop is often the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will result in a deafening screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

When individuals are looking for a budget-friendly device, they often sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. When considering 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 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 advanced feature ensures that when your daughter talks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

This may come as a shock because so many people think otherwise. 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 slight hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But individuals who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices very useful.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties may cover them. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. If you think you have hearing loss, begin by getting checked out. 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 sure you get a pair that won’t break the bank!