The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple different ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. 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 example, the term “cheap” indicates low-quality hearing aids.

Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re buying a very low-quality device can be tricky. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

The saying “you get what you pay for” is especially potent with hearing aids. This means weeding out the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” zone, not automatically opting for the most costly option. Companies marketing cheap hearing devices frequently omit important details about their products that customers should be aware of.

They typically just amplify sound

Increasing the overall volume is typically the only thing cheap “hearing aids” can handle. If you boost 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 shoes moving across the floor.

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

On the other hand, a high-quality, modern hearing aid goes beyond simple volume adjustment. It minimizes background noise while expertly managing sound and maximizing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your distinct hearing needs, closely simulating natural hearing with better accuracy.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

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

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

The majority of reputable companies follow the rules. But there are some sellers, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what defines the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and consequently, they put out misleading statements about their products. Some even inaccurately advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

For most types of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all

Most people who lose their hearing will gradually lose specific frequencies of sound before others. You may have a hard time understanding a little kid or a woman, for instance, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. However, if you struggle with particular frequencies, merely increasing the volume will be inadequate. And turning up the overall volume could lead to additional damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t have trouble with will be roaring in your ears.

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 an issue

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is frequently the result of poorly fitting hearing aids. As the speaker in your ear jiggles around, the microphone picks up the sound. This will generate a deafening screech.

They normally don’t have cellphone support

When individuals 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 hurdle. Attempting to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone leads to capturing not just the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair rubbing against the phone, making it even more difficult to hear the person on the other end.

In comparison, digital hearing aids use telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating 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 shock because so many people think otherwise. PSAPs were never designed for individuals with hearing loss. They were made to help people who have fairly good hearing hear things a bit louder.

If you have very mild hearing loss then cheap devices may help a little. But individuals who actually need hearing aids won’t find these cheaper devices that helpful.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

There are lots of ways to get hearing aids affordably. They might even be covered by insurance or other third parties. You can also find financing possibilities, leasing plans, and more affordable brands. If you suspect you have hearing loss, start by getting checked out. Call us today for a consultation, we can help decide what’s best for you, depending on your degree and type of hearing loss, and make certain you land a pair that won’t break the bank!