“Cheap Hearing Aids” What You Should Know

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

Unfortunately, determining whether you’re getting a great deal from whether you’re purchasing a very low-quality device can be tricky. This is particularly relevant in terms of hearing aids.

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” is especially relevant. This doesn’t necessarily imply going for the top-tier option, but instead, looking closely at offerings that boast a price tag too enticing to be genuine. Customers need to recognize that important information is often left out of the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” generally offer limited functionality, mainly amplifying or decreasing 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.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is completely defeated if it also amplifies unwanted sound.

A modern state-of-the-art hearing aid, in contrast, does a lot more than just crank the volume up. It expertly manages sound, enhancing the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background noise. Genuine hearing aids are tailored to your specific hearing needs, closely mimicking natural hearing with increased accuracy.

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.

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

There are many legitimate and reputable companies that comply with appropriate marketing. But you may find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that deceive consumers into thinking that these devices meet the classification of a hearing aid. You may even find some that claim that they are FDA-approved when that’s actually false.

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

The majority of individuals who lose their hearing will gradually lose certain frequencies of sound before others. You may have a difficult time understanding a small child or a woman, for example, but you have no problem understanding a man with a low voice.

A cheap hearing device typically results in total volume amplification. But simply turning up the total volume will not be adequate for individuals who have a difficult time hearing certain frequencies. 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 specific frequencies. They offer a more personalized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

Feedback can be an issue

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. Without that custom fit, you’ll generate a feedback loop. As the speaker in your ear wiggles 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 opting for budget options, and this is true for lots of inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. The lack of Bluetooth becomes critical when considering phone connectivity. 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 brushing against the phone, making it even more challenging to hear the person on the other end.

More advanced hearing aids are digital and utilize Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. Overall communication and clarity will be improved so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They’re not designed for people with hearing loss

This could come as a shock because so many individuals think otherwise. These amplifiers were never intended to treat hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for individuals who have fairly good hearing.

Cheap devices might help a little if you only have slight hearing loss. But they won’t be of much use for people who actually need hearing aids.

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

There are lots of ways to get hearing aids affordably. Insurance or other third parties may 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 suspect 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.