The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The term “cheap” carries dual meanings. For anyone on a small budget, it means “affordability”. On the other hand, it implies low-quality, turning a seemingly 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 purchasing a really low-quality device can be difficult. This is especially relevant in the realm of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings especially true. This doesn’t always mean opting for the top-tier option, but instead, looking closely at offerings that boast a price tag too appealing to be genuine. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices frequently omit important details about their products that consumers should know about.

They usually just amplify sound

Increasing the overall volume is typically the only thing cheap “hearing aids” are capable of. When you simply amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are unwanted background noise you don’t want.

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

On the other hand, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background sound. Authentic hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

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

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

There are lots of legitimate and reputable providers that comply with correct marketing. 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 statements about their products. You may even find some that claim that they’re approved by the FDA when that’s actually not true.

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

The gradual loss of hearing frequently involves trouble hearing certain frequencies instead of an abrupt total loss. You may have a difficult time understanding a little kid or a woman, for example, but you have no issue understanding a man with a low voice.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But just turning up the total volume will not be sufficient for people who have a difficult time hearing specific frequencies. Moreover, turning up the volume substantially to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may result in your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, potentially contributing to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost 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.

Feedback can be a problem

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 wiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. 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. When thinking about phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a huge obstacle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears brushing on 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. This state-of-the-art feature ensures that when your daughter speaks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, improving clarity and overall communication.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

Most individuals would probably be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were made to help people who have relatively good hearing hear things a bit louder.

Cheap devices may help a little if you only have slight hearing loss. But they won’t be of much help for people who actually need hearing aids.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you think you might have hearing loss. Call us today for a consultation, we can help decide what’s best for you, depending on your degree and type of hearing loss, and make certain you land a pair that won’t break the bank!