“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

The word “cheap” has dual meanings. On the one hand, it signifies affordability, a practical option for a budget-conscious individual. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the word “cheap” suggests low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between a thrifty purchase and an item of minimal value is frequently challenging. This is particularly true in terms of hearing aids.

The adage “you get what you pay for” is especially potent with hearing aids. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically opting for the most expensive option. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices frequently leave out essential details about their products that customers should know about.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

Cheap “hearing aids” generally provide limited functionality, primarily amplifying or decreasing overall volume. When you just amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are unwanted background noise you don’t want.

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

On the other hand, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It decreases background noise while expertly managing sound and enhancing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tuned to your particular hearing needs, closely simulating natural hearing with greater accuracy.

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 called hearing aids.

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

There are many legit and reputable companies that comply with appropriate marketing. But there are some vendors, especially 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. You might even find some that state that they are FDA-approved when that’s actually false.

They’re not inclusive for most kinds of hearing loss

Most individuals who lose their hearing will slowly lose certain frequencies of sound before others. You might have a hard time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.

A cheap hearing device typically results in total volume amplification. But, if you struggle with specific frequencies, merely increasing the volume proves inadequate. Furthermore, turning the volume up substantially to hear 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 exposed to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to increase particular frequencies providing a much better solution. They offer 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

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. Without that custom fit, you’ll create a feedback loop. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. This will result in a deafening screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when choosing budget devices, and this holds true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. 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 only the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair brushing against the phone, making it even more challenging to hear the person on the other end.

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 speaks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They’re not made for people with hearing loss

This could come as a surprise because so many individuals think otherwise. PSAPs were never designed for people with hearing loss. They were designed to help people who have fairly good hearing hear things a little louder.

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 very useful.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing plans, 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!