The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The word “cheap” has dual meanings. For somebody on a small budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, it indicates low-quality, turning a seemingly economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the adage “You get what you pay for”.

Unfortunately, deciding if you’re getting a great value from whether you’re buying a really low-quality device can be tricky. This is particularly true in terms of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” is especially true. This doesn’t necessarily imply going for the top-tier option, but instead, looking closely at products that boast a price tag too tempting to be genuine. Customers need to recognize that essential information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They usually just amplify sound

Boosting the overall volume is generally the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. If you boost the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also pick up background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in another room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes moving across the floor.

If everything is louder, it totally defeats the purpose of using a hearing aid.

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does a lot more than simply turn up the volume. It skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Genuine hearing aids are tuned to your distinct hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with increased accuracy.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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

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

There are many legit and reputable providers that comply with proper marketing. But you may find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that mislead consumers into thinking that these devices meet the classification of a hearing aid. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

They’re not inclusive for the majority of kinds of hearing loss

The majority of people who lose their hearing will slowly lose particular frequencies of sound before others. You may have a hard time understanding a little kid or a woman, for instance, but you have no issue understanding a man with a low voice.

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for people who have a tough time hearing specific frequencies. Moreover, turning up the volume substantially to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might result in your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, potentially adding 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 can instantly adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing a more tailored and effective hearing experience.

Feedback can be a problem

Cheap hearing aids are typically not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is often the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will result in a deafening screech.

They usually don’t have cellphone support

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a significant obstacle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips 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 advanced feature ensures that when your daughter speaks on the other end, her voice is transmitted directly into your hearing aids, improving clarity and overall communication.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

The majority of individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.

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

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are lots of ways to get hearing aids affordably. They may even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. If you suspect you have hearing loss, begin by getting checked out. Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you find the best and most affordable hearing aids for your degree and type of hearing loss.