The word “cheap” has dual meanings. For somebody on a small budget, it means “affordability”. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the term “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.
Unfortunately, deciding if you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re getting a really low-quality device can be challenging. This is particularly relevant in terms of hearing aids.
The saying “you get what you pay for” is especially relevant with hearing aids. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not necessarily opting for the most costly option. Consumers need to be aware that essential information is frequently left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.
Cheaper hearing aids are pretty much only amplifiers
Cheap “hearing aids” usually offer minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or reducing overall volume. If you amplify 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 slippers going across the floor.
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 simply crank up the volume. It decreases background noise while expertly managing sound and improving clarity. Authentic 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 labeled hearing aids.
Unfortunately, many personal sound amplification products PSAPs are incorrectly marketed as hearing aids even though they only amplify sound.
The majority of reputable providers comply. But there are some sellers, particularly online, that might be misinformed about what characterizes 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.
For the majority of kinds of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all
Most individuals who lose their hearing will slowly lose specific frequencies of sound before others. You may have a difficult time understanding a little kid or a woman, for example, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.
You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. However, if you have trouble with certain frequencies, merely increasing the volume will be inadequate. Moreover, turning up the volume substantially to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might lead to your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially contributing to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for extended periods.
High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of specific frequencies. They offer a more personalized 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. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.
They normally won’t help you on your cellphone
When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. The lack of Bluetooth becomes critical when thinking about phone connectivity. Trying 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 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. This state-of-the-art 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
The majority of individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were designed to help individuals who have relatively good hearing hear things a bit louder.
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?
Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids is not difficult. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. 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 level and type of hearing loss, and make sure you get a pair that won’t break the bank!
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References
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/hearing-aids