“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

The term “cheap” has dual meanings. For anyone on a small budget, it means “affordability”. On the other hand, it conveys low-quality, turning a seemingly 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 deal from whether you’re purchasing a really low-quality device can be challenging. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings especially valid. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically going for the most costly choice. Consumers need to be aware that essential information is often excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They usually just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” usually offer limited functionality, mainly amplifying or decreasing overall volume. When you merely amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are undesirable background sounds you don’t want.

If everything is louder, it entirely defeats the purpose of having a hearing aid.

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than just crank up the volume. It skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Authentic hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

The Food and Drug Administration has drafted guidelines for companies 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 actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only amplify sound.

Most reputable providers comply. But there are some sellers, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading claims about their products. You may even find some that claim that they are FDA-approved when that’s actually false.

For most kinds of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all

Most people who lose their hearing will gradually lose particular 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 total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply turning up the overall volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a difficult 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 offer a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of specific frequencies. They can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing a more customized and effective hearing experience.

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 jiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when choosing budget devices, and this is true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth capability. The absence 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 brushing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.

More advanced hearing aids are digital and use Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. Overall communication and clarity will be enhanced so you can be sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They aren’t made for individuals with hearing loss

This might come as a shock because so many people think otherwise. PSAPs were never designed for individuals with hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for individuals who have fairly good hearing.

If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But individuals 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 is not hard. They may even be covered by insurance or other third parties. You can also find financing options, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. If you suspect 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 amount and type of hearing loss, and make sure you get a pair that won’t break the bank!