The term “cheap” has dual meanings. On the one hand, it signifies affordability, a wise option for a budget-conscious person. But we’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for”, and in this example, the word “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.

Unfortunately, deciding if you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re getting a very low-quality device can be difficult. This is especially relevant in the realm of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” is especially valid. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically going for the most expensive choice. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices frequently omit essential details about their products that customers should be aware of.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

Boosting the overall volume is typically the only thing cheap “hearing aids” are capable of. 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 going across the floor.

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

On the other hand, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It decreases background sound while skillfully managing sound and improving clarity. Authentic hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom tuned to your particular hearing needs.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

There are stringent rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as written by the Food and Drug Administration.

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

There are many legitimate and reputable companies that comply with proper marketing. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that might be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading claims about their products. You might even find some that state that they’re FDA-approved when that’s actually not true.

For most kinds of hearing loss they won’t be helpful at all

The slow loss of hearing usually involves difficulty with specific frequencies instead of an abrupt total loss. You may have a difficult time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.

A cheap hearing device typically results in overall volume amplification. But just cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for people who have a tough time hearing particular frequencies. Moreover, turning up the volume significantly to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor might lead to your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, possibly contributing to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for prolonged periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost particular 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 effective hearing experience.

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. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it jiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They normally won’t help you on your cellphone

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when choosing budget devices, and this holds true for many inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when thinking about phone connectivity. Attempting to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone leads to 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 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 sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never intended to treat hearing loss

This might come as a surprise because so many individuals think otherwise. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were made to help individuals who have relatively good hearing hear things a little louder.

Cheap devices might help a little if you only have minor hearing loss. But people who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices very helpful.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

There are many ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties may cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. The first step is to get a hearing test if you think you may have hearing loss. Make 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.

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