The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple different ways to interpret the word “cheap hearing aids”. For anyone on a small budget, it means “affordability”. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the term “cheap” implies low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, distinguishing between a thrifty purchase and an item of minimal value is frequently challenging. This is particularly relevant in terms of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings especially valid. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not necessarily opting for the most costly choice. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices often omit essential details about their products that consumers should know about.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

Cheap “hearing aids” generally offer limited functionality, primarily amplifying or reducing overall volume. If you amplify the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also get background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house slippers going across the floor.

If everything is louder, it totally defeats the purpose of having a hearing aid.

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in comparison, does much more than simply turn up the volume. It decreases background sound while expertly managing sound and enhancing clarity. Real hearing aids mimic natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your particular hearing needs.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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

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

The majority of reputable companies comply. 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. You may even find some that claim that they are FDA-approved when that’s actually false.

They’re not helpful for the majority of kinds of hearing loss

The gradual loss of hearing usually involves difficulty with specific frequencies rather than a sudden total loss. You might have a hard time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.

You get total amplification with cheap hearing aids. But simply turning up the overall volume will not be adequate for people who have a difficult time hearing specific frequencies. Moreover, turning up the volume significantly to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may result in your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, potentially adding to hearing loss if exposed to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost 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 tailored and reliable hearing experience.

You might get a lot of feedback

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. A feedback loop is often the consequence of poorly fitting hearing aids. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. 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 lack 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 lips or ears brushing against the phone, or clothing and hair.

In comparison, 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 enhanced so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

This may come as a shock because so many individuals think otherwise. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were made to amplify sound for individuals who have relatively good hearing.

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

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

Obtaining affordable quality hearing aids isn’t difficult. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing plans, and financing options. The first step is to get a hearing test if you suspect you may have hearing loss. Call us today for a consultation, we can help decide what’s best for you, depending on your level and type of hearing loss, and make certain you get a pair that won’t break the bank!