The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple separate ways to interpret the word “cheap hearing aids”. On the one hand, it indicates affordability, a practical choice for a budget-conscious individual. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the term “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between a thrifty purchase and an item of minimal value is frequently challenging. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more relevant.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” is particularly relevant. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically opting for the most costly choice. Consumers need to recognize that essential information is frequently left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Amplifying the overall volume is generally 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.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is entirely defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than just crank up the volume. It decreases background sound while skillfully managing sound and enhancing clarity. 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 published by the Food and Drug Administration.

Regrettably, there are many devices out there that are advertised as hearing aids when they are actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named such because they can only amplify sound.

Most reputable companies comply. But there are some sellers, especially online, that may be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading statements about their products. You might even find some that state that they are FDA-approved when that’s actually not true.

They’re not inclusive for most kinds of hearing loss

The progressive loss of hearing frequently involves trouble hearing certain frequencies instead of a sudden total loss. For instance, you may 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.

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But just cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a tough time hearing particular frequencies. Moreover, turning up the volume substantially to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might lead to your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, potentially contributing to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for prolonged periods.

High-quality hearing aids offer a solution by being programmable to make up for the loss of particular frequencies. 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 create 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 usually don’t have cellphone support

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. The absence of Bluetooth becomes critical when considering phone connectivity. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips rubbing on the phone, or clothing and hair.

More advanced hearing aids are digital and utilize Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. This state-of-the-art 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 aren’t designed for individuals with hearing loss

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

Cheap devices might 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?

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids is not difficult. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing possibilities. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you think you might have hearing loss. 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.