“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

The term “cheap” has dual meanings. For someone on a small budget, it means “affordability”. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the word “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between a thrifty purchase and an item of negligible value is frequently challenging. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

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” zone, not necessarily going for the most expensive option. Customers need to be aware that important information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They often just amplify sound

Amplifying the overall volume is generally the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. When you just amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are undesirable background sounds you don’t want.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is entirely defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than just turn up the volume. It skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background noise. Real 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 published by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sadly, there are many devices out there that market themselves as hearing aids when they’re actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only amplify sound.

There are many legitimate and reputable companies that comply with correct marketing. But you may find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that deceive consumers into thinking that these devices meet the definition of a hearing aid. 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 people who lose their hearing will gradually lose particular frequencies of sound before others. For instance, you might have no trouble hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it challenging to understand.

A cheap hearing device typically results in overall volume amplification. However, if you have trouble with particular frequencies, merely increasing the volume will be insufficient. Furthermore, turning up the volume considerably 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 exposed to high volumes for prolonged periods.

High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of specific frequencies. They can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more tailored and effective hearing experience.

You might get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are usually not custom fit to your ears. Without that custom fit, you’ll generate a feedback loop. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will result in a deafening screech.

They normally won’t help you on your cellphone

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when opting for budget options, and this holds true for many inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. When thinking about phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a huge hurdle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips rubbing against the phone, or clothing and hair.

In contrast, digital hearing aids utilize 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 transmitted 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 fairly good hearing hear things a little louder.

If you have very slight hearing loss then cheap devices might 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. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing programs, and more affordable brands. If you suspect you have hearing loss, start by getting checked out. Make an appointment with us so we can help you get the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.