“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

There are a couple separate ways to think about the term “cheap hearing aids”. For anyone on a tight budget, it means “affordability”. On the other hand, it conveys low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart choice, epitomized by the saying “You get what you pay for”.

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

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings especially valid. This doesn’t always imply picking the top-tier option, but instead, looking closely at products that boast a price tag too appealing to be authentic. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices frequently omit important details about their products that customers should know about.

They usually just amplify sound

Boosting the overall volume is generally the only thing cheap “hearing aids” are capable of. If you boost the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also get background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house slippers going across the floor.

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

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than just turn up the volume. It skillfully manages sound, enhancing the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background sound. Authentic hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your specific hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

There are strict rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as published by the Food and Drug Administration.

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

Most reputable companies follow the rules. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that might 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.

They’re not inclusive for the majority of kinds of hearing loss

The slow loss of hearing often involves trouble hearing specific frequencies rather than a sudden total loss. 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.

A cheap hearing device usually results in overall volume amplification. But, if you struggle with certain frequencies, just increasing the volume proves inadequate. And turning up the overall volume could lead to additional damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t have trouble with will be booming in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. They can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more tailored and reliable hearing experience.

Feedback can be an issue

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is frequently the consequence of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is often sacrificed when opting for budget devices, and this holds true for many inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. When thinking about phone connectivity, the absence of Bluetooth is a significant obstacle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips rubbing against the phone, or clothing and hair.

In comparison, 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 were never meant to treat hearing loss

The majority of people would probably be surprised by this. PSAPs were never made for individuals with hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for individuals who have fairly good hearing.

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

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Getting affordable quality hearing aids isn’t difficult. Insurance or other third parties may cover them. You can also find financing options, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. If you think you have hearing loss, start by getting checked out. Call us today for a consultation, we can help figure out what’s best for you, depending on your level and type of hearing loss, and make certain you land a pair that won’t break the bank!