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

Regrettably, differentiating between an economical purchase and an item of minimal value is frequently tricky. With regard to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” is particularly valid. This doesn’t necessarily imply picking the top-tier option, but instead, looking closely at offerings that boast a price tag too enticing to be genuine. Companies marketing inexpensive hearing devices frequently omit essential details about their products that customers should know about.

They usually just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” usually offer limited functionality, primarily amplifying or decreasing overall volume. If you amplify the volume to hear the TV better, you’ll also pick up background noises like the dishwasher, a fan in a different room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house slippers moving 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 skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background noise. Genuine hearing aids are tuned to your specific hearing requirements, closely simulating natural hearing with increased accuracy.

PSAPs vs. Hearing Aids

The Food and Drug Administration has written guidelines for companies who sell hearing devices and have strict rules as to what can be labeled hearing aids.

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

Most reputable companies comply. 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 might even find some that state that they are approved by the FDA when that’s actually not true.

They aren’t helpful for the majority of types of hearing loss

The gradual loss of hearing usually involves difficulty with specific frequencies rather than an abrupt total loss. You may have a hard time understanding a little kid or a woman, for example, but you have no issue understanding a man with a low voice.

You get overall amplification with cheap hearing aids. But just cranking up the overall volume will not be sufficient for individuals who have a tough time hearing particular frequencies. And turning the overall volume up could lead to added damage to your hearing because the frequencies you don’t struggle with will be roaring in your ears.

High-quality hearing aids provide a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of particular frequencies. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing a more tailored and reliable hearing experience.

You might get a lot of feedback

Cheap hearing aids are generally not custom fit to your ears. A feedback loop is often the result of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They typically won’t help you on your cellphone

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they often sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth connectivity. The absence of Bluetooth becomes crucial when thinking about phone connectivity. Attempting to amplify a cheap hearing aid while on the phone results in capturing not only the caller’s voice but also the sounds of your ear, lips, clothing, and hair rubbing against the phone, making it even more challenging to hear the person on the other end.

More sophisticated hearing aids are digital and utilize Bluetooth connectivity to connect directly to your phone. This advanced feature ensures that when your daughter talks on the other end, her voice is transmitted directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

The majority of individuals would most likely be surprised by this. PSAPs were never designed for individuals with hearing loss. They were designed to help people who have relatively good hearing hear things a bit louder.

Cheap devices may help a little if you only have minor hearing loss. But they won’t be of much help 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 might cover them. There are also affordable brands, leasing programs, and financing options. If you think you have hearing loss, begin by getting checked out. 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.

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