The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple different ways to think about the term “cheap hearing aids”. For anyone on a tight budget, it means “affordability”. On the other hand, it conveys low-quality, turning an apparently economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the adage “You get what you pay for”.

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is often challenging. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more true.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings particularly true. 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 essential information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

Cheaper hearing aids are pretty much only amplifiers

Cheap “hearing aids” generally provide minimal functionality, primarily amplifying or reducing overall volume. If you amplify 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 slippers 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 contrast, does much more than simply turn the volume up. It minimizes background noise while expertly managing sound and enhancing clarity. Genuine hearing aids are tailored to your specific hearing requirements, closely mimicking natural hearing with better accuracy.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

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

Unfortunately, many personal sound amplification products PSAPs are inaccurately marketed as hearing aids even though they only amplify sound.

Most reputable companies comply. But there are some sellers, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading statements about their products. Some even inaccurately advertise that they are FDA-approved.

They aren’t inclusive for the majority of kinds of hearing loss

Most individuals who lose their hearing will gradually lose specific frequencies of sound before others. 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 understand.

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. However, if you have trouble with specific frequencies, just increasing the volume proves insufficient. Furthermore, turning up the volume significantly to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might lead to your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially adding to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for prolonged periods.

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

Feedback can be a problem

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 normally don’t have cellphone support

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a huge obstacle. Attempting 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 brushing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.

In contrast, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. This state-of-the-art 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

The majority of 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 fairly good hearing.

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

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

Getting affordable quality hearing aids is not hard. They may even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing possibilities. If you suspect you have hearing loss, start by getting checked out. 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 land a pair that won’t break the bank!