The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

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

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of negligible value is frequently tricky. This is particularly true in the realm of hearing aids.

The adage “you get what you pay for” is particularly potent with hearing aids. This doesn’t necessarily mean picking the top-tier option, but rather, scrutinizing products that boast a price tag too tempting to be authentic. Consumers need to be aware that important information is frequently excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They often just amplify sound

Boosting the overall volume is usually the only thing cheap “hearing aids” are capable of. If you boost the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also get background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in another room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house shoes moving across the floor.

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

A contemporary state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does a lot more than just turn the volume up. It decreases background noise while expertly managing sound and maximizing clarity. Genuine hearing aids are tailored to your specific hearing needs, closely simulating natural hearing with better accuracy.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

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

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

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

For most kinds 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 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.

A cheap hearing device usually results in total volume amplification. But just cranking up the total volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a tough time hearing specific frequencies. Furthermore, turning up the volume significantly to hear the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may lead to your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, possibly contributing to hearing loss if exposed 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, delivering a more customized and reliable hearing experience.

You may get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. 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 normally don’t have cellphone support

Functionality is frequently sacrificed when choosing budget options, and this holds true for many inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when thinking about 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 rubbing on the phone, or clothing and hair.

In contrast, 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 designed for individuals with hearing loss

Most individuals would most likely be surprised by this. These amplifiers were never meant to treat hearing loss. They were designed to help individuals who have relatively good hearing hear things a little louder.

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

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

There are lots of ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties might cover them. You can also find financing options, leasing plans, and more affordable brands. The first step is to get a hearing test 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 level and type of hearing loss.