The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

The term “cheap” carries dual meanings. For somebody on a small budget, it means “affordability”. But we’ve all heard the phrase “You get what you pay for”, and in this case, the term “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is often challenging. This is especially true in the realm of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” is particularly valid. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not automatically opting for the most costly option. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices frequently leave out essential details about their products that customers should know about.

Cheaper hearing aids are basically only amplifiers

Boosting 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 unwanted background sounds you don’t want.

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

Contrastingly, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It skillfully manages sound, maximizing the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background noise. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your distinct hearing needs, closely mimicking natural hearing with increased accuracy.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

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

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

There are lots of legit and reputable companies that comply with correct marketing. But there are some vendors, especially 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. You may even find some that claim that they’re approved by the FDA when that’s actually false.

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

The gradual loss of hearing often involves difficulty with particular frequencies instead of an abrupt total loss. For example, you might have no problems hearing a man with a low voice, but have difficulty with a woman’s or child’s voice, finding it difficult to understand.

A cheap hearing device typically results in overall volume amplification. However, if you have trouble with particular frequencies, just increasing the volume proves insufficient. Moreover, turning the volume up substantially to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may lead to your adult son’s voice sounding like a roar, possibly contributing to hearing loss if exposed to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to increase selected frequencies providing 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 effective 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 typically won’t help you on your cellphone

Functionality is often sacrificed when choosing budget options, and this is true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a significant obstacle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you try to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your lips or ears rubbing against the phone, or clothing and hair.

In comparison, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. This advanced feature ensures that when your daughter speaks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, improving clarity and overall communication.

They aren’t made for people with hearing loss

The majority of individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were designed 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 use for individuals who actually need hearing aids.

Finding quality, affordable hearing aids

Getting affordable quality hearing aids isn’t difficult. They may even be covered by insurance or other third parties. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you think you might have hearing loss. Make an appointment with us so we can help you get the best and most affordable hearing aids for your level and type of hearing loss.

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment