The word “cheap” has dual meanings. On the one hand, it signifies affordability, a wise option for a budget-conscious person. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the term “cheap” implies low-quality hearing aids.
Unfortunately, deciding if you’re getting a great value from whether you’re getting a really low-quality device can be challenging. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more relevant.
The saying “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 automatically going for the most costly choice. Customers need to recognize that important information is often excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.
Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers
Increasing the overall volume is typically the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. When you merely 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 undesirable sound.
A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does a lot more than just turn up the volume. It expertly manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background sound. Real hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your particular hearing needs.
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.
Unfortunately, many personal sound amplification products PSAPs are incorrectly advertised as hearing aids even though they only amplify sound.
There are many legit and reputable providers that comply with appropriate marketing. But there are some sellers, especially online, that might be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even inaccurately advertise that they are approved by the FDA.
For most kinds of hearing loss they won’t be helpful at all
The gradual loss of hearing frequently involves trouble hearing specific frequencies rather than an abrupt total loss. For example, you may have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but struggle with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it difficult to comprehend.
You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a difficult time hearing specific frequencies. And turning the overall volume up 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 provide a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more customized and reliable hearing experience.
You may get a lot of feedback
You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll generate a feedback loop. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.
They typically won’t help you on your cellphone
When individuals are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. 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 ears or lips rubbing on the phone, or clothing and hair.
On the other hand, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be improved so you can be sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.
They aren’t made for individuals with hearing loss
This might come as a shock because so many people think otherwise. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for people who have relatively good hearing.
Cheap devices may help a little if you only have slight hearing loss. But they won’t be of much help for individuals who actually need hearing aids.
Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?
There are lots of ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing possibilities. The first step is to get a hearing test if you suspect you might 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 sure 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