The term “cheap” has dual meanings. On the one hand, it implies affordability, a practical choice for a budget-conscious person. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this case, the term “cheap” suggests low-quality hearing aids.
Regrettably, distinguishing between an economical purchase and an item of minimal value is frequently tricky. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more relevant.
With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” is especially true. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not necessarily going for the most costly option. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices frequently omit essential details about their products that consumers should know about.
Cheaper hearing aids are pretty much only amplifiers
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 pick up background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes going across the floor.
The purpose of having a hearing aid is totally defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.
A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does much more than just turn the volume up. It reduces background sound while skillfully managing sound and enhancing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tuned to your particular hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with better accuracy.
Hearing aids vs. PSAPs
The Food and Drug Administration has drafted 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 providers that comply with appropriate marketing. But you might find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that deceive consumers into believing that these devices meet the definition of a hearing aid. You might even find some that claim that they’re FDA-approved when that’s actually false.
For the majority of kinds of hearing loss they won’t be helpful at all
Most individuals who lose their hearing will slowly lose certain frequencies of sound before others. You might have a difficult time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.
You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply turning up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a tough time hearing certain frequencies. And turning up the overall volume could result in added damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be booming in your ears.
High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of particular frequencies. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing a more tailored 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. This will result in a deafening screech.
They normally don’t have cellphone support
When individuals are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. The lack of Bluetooth becomes critical when thinking about phone connectivity. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears rubbing against the phone, or clothing and hair.
In comparison, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing 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, improving clarity and overall communication.
They aren’t designed for individuals with hearing loss
This could come as a surprise because so many people think otherwise. PSAPs were never made for individuals with hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.
If you have very slight hearing loss then cheap devices may help a little. But they won’t be of much use for individuals who actually need hearing aids.
Finding quality, affordable hearing aids
Getting affordable quality hearing aids isn’t hard. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing possibilities. The first step is to get a hearing test if you think you may have hearing loss. 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 get a pair that won’t break the bank!
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References
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/hearing-aids