The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple separate ways to interpret the term “cheap hearing aids”. On the one hand, it indicates affordability, a wise choice for a budget-conscious person. Conversely, it implies low-quality, turning a seemingly economical purchase into a not-so-smart decision, epitomized by the saying “You get what you pay for”.

Unfortunately, deciding if you’re getting a great value from whether you’re purchasing a really low-quality device can be difficult. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more valid.

With hearing aids, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings especially true. This means eliminating the devices that are priced in the “too good to be true” range, not necessarily opting for the most costly option. Consumers need to recognize that important information is often excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” typically offer minimal functionality, mainly amplifying or reducing 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 another room, a barking dog, or the sound of your house slippers moving across the floor.

The purpose of having a hearing aid is entirely defeated if it also amplifies undesirable sound.

Contrastingly, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It reduces background noise while skillfully managing sound and maximizing clarity. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your particular hearing needs, closely simulating 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.

Sadly, there are many devices out there that are advertised as hearing aids when they are technically personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named such because they can only amplify sound.

The majority of reputable companies follow the rules. But you might find some uninformed salespeople or products on Amazon or eBay that mislead consumers into believing 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 the majority of kinds of hearing loss they won’t be effective at all

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

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

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to increase particular frequencies providing a much better solution. They can automatically 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

You won’t get a custom fit with cheap hearing aids. A feedback loop is frequently the outcome of poorly fitting hearing aids. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. What does this sound like? An ear-shattering screech.

They normally won’t help you on your cellphone

Functionality is often sacrificed when opting for budget devices, and this holds true for many inexpensive hearing aids lacking Bluetooth connectivity. When thinking about phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a major hurdle. With cheaper hearing devices, when you attempt to amplify phone calls, your device will amplify every little sound, like your ears or lips brushing against 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 talks on the other end, her voice is sent directly into your hearing aids, enhancing clarity and overall communication.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

This might come as a shock because so many people think otherwise. PSAPs were never designed for people with hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for people who have fairly good hearing.

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

Where can you get quality affordable hearing aids?

There are many 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. The first step is to get a hearing test if you think you may have hearing loss. Make 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.