The Truth About Cheap “Hearing Aids”

There are a couple different ways to think about the word “cheap hearing aids”. For anyone on a tight budget, it means “affordability”. Conversely, it conveys low-quality, turning a seemingly economical purchase into a not-so-smart choice, epitomized by the adage “You get what you pay for”.

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

With hearing aids, the axiom “you get what you pay for” rings particularly true. This doesn’t always imply opting for the top-tier option, but instead, scrutinizing offerings that boast a price tag too tempting to be legitimate. Consumers need to be aware that essential information is often excluded from the marketing campaigns of cheap hearing aids.

They typically just amplify sound

Cheap “hearing aids” usually provide minimal functionality, primarily amplifying or reducing overall volume. When you simply amplify everything, the sounds you want to hear better are amplified but so are unwanted background noise you don’t want.

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

Contrastingly, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It skillfully manages sound, maximizing the clarity of desired sounds while tuning out background sound. Authentic hearing aids are tailored to your specific hearing requirements, 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 labeled hearing aids.

Regrettably, there are many devices out there that market themselves as hearing aids when they’re actually personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), named this because they can only 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 mislead consumers into thinking that these devices meet the definition of a hearing aid. You might even find some that claim that they’re approved by the FDA when that’s actually false.

They’re not inclusive for most kinds of hearing loss

The slow loss of hearing frequently involves trouble hearing specific frequencies instead of a sudden total loss. You might have a hard time understanding a small child or a woman, for instance, but you have no issue understanding a man with a low voice.

A cheap hearing device usually results in overall volume amplification. But just cranking up the overall volume will not be adequate for people who have a hard time hearing specific frequencies. Furthermore, turning up the volume considerably to catch the sound of your granddaughter playing on the floor may lead to your adult son’s speech sounding like a roar, potentially adding to hearing loss if subjected to high volumes for extended periods.

High-quality hearing aids can be programmed to boost selected frequencies providing a much better solution. They can automatically adjust the frequency you struggle to hear to one that is more audible, providing 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 often the result of poorly fitting hearing aids. 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

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 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 difficult to hear the person on the other end.

In comparison, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, establishing a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be enhanced so you can be certain you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

Most people would probably be surprised by this. PSAPs were never designed for individuals with hearing loss. They were designed to amplify sound for people who have relatively good hearing.

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

Finding 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. The first step is to get a hearing assessment if you think you may have hearing loss. 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.