“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

The term “cheap” carries dual meanings. For somebody on a small budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, it conveys low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the saying “You get what you pay for”.

Regrettably, distinguishing between a thrifty purchase and an item of negligible value is frequently tricky. This is especially relevant in terms of hearing aids.

The adage “you get what you pay for” is especially relevant with hearing aids. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not necessarily opting for the most costly choice. Consumers need to recognize that important information is frequently left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They often just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” generally offer minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or reducing overall volume. If you amplify the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also pick up background noises including the dishwasher, a fan in a different 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 modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does much more than just turn the volume up. It decreases background noise while skillfully managing sound and enhancing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your particular hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with greater accuracy.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

The Food and Drug Administration has written guidelines for those who sell hearing devices and have strict rules as to what can be labeled hearing aids.

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

The majority of reputable providers follow the rules. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

For the majority of types of hearing loss they won’t be helpful at all

The slow loss of hearing often involves difficulty with particular frequencies rather than an abrupt complete loss. For example, you might have no trouble hearing a man with a low voice, but have difficulty with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it challenging to comprehend.

A cheap hearing device usually results in overall volume amplification. But, if you struggle with particular frequencies, merely boosting the volume will be insufficient. Furthermore, turning the volume up considerably to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may lead to your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially adding to hearing loss if exposed to high volumes for prolonged periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost particular frequencies providing a much better solution. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, delivering a more customized and reliable hearing experience.

Feedback can be a problem

Cheap hearing aids are generally 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 usually don’t have cellphone support

When people 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. Trying to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in capturing not only the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair rubbing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.

More sophisticated hearing aids are digital and utilize Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. This advanced feature ensures that when your daughter speaks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They aren’t made for individuals with hearing loss

Most individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were made to help individuals who have fairly good hearing hear things a little louder.

If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But individuals who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices that helpful.

Where can you get 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. You can also find financing options, leasing plans, 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 find the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.