The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The word “cheap” has dual meanings. For somebody on a small budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, 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, determining whether you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re getting a really low-quality device can be tricky. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

The saying “you get what you pay for” is especially potent with hearing aids. This doesn’t always imply going for the top-tier option, but instead, scrutinizing offerings that boast a price tag too enticing to be authentic. Customers need to be aware that essential information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

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

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

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does a lot more than simply crank up the volume. It skillfully manages sound, maximizing the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Real hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your specific hearing needs.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

The Food and Drug Administration has written guidelines for companies who sell hearing devices and have stringent rules as to what can be called hearing aids.

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

There are many legit and reputable providers that comply with correct marketing. But there are some vendors, especially online, that might be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading claims about their products. You may even find some that state that they are approved by the FDA when that’s actually false.

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

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

A cheap hearing device usually results in total volume amplification. But simply cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a hard time hearing particular frequencies. Furthermore, turning the volume up significantly 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 offer a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. They offer a more customized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

You might get a lot of feedback

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll create a feedback loop. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they often sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. When thinking about phone connectivity, the absence of Bluetooth is a significant hurdle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears rubbing on the phone, or clothing and hair.

In contrast, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. This advanced feature ensures that when your daughter talks on the other end, her voice is transmitted directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They aren’t made for people with hearing loss

Most individuals would probably be surprised by this. PSAPs were never designed for individuals with hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for individuals who have relatively good hearing.

If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices might help a little. But they won’t be of much help for people who actually need hearing aids.

Finding 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 possibilities. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you think you may have hearing loss. Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you get the best and most affordable hearing aids for your degree and type of hearing loss.