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

Regrettably, distinguishing between an economical purchase and an item of minimal value is often tricky. When it comes to hearing aids, this couldn’t be more relevant.

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

They usually just amplify sound

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

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

On the other hand, a high-quality, contemporary hearing aid goes beyond mere volume adjustment. It skillfully manages sound, improving the clarity of desired sounds while reducing background noise. Authentic hearing aids simulate natural hearing with great accuracy and are custom programmed to your specific hearing needs.

Hearing aids vs. PSAPs

There are stringent rules about what an advertiser can call a hearing aid as published by the Food and Drug Administration.

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

There are lots of legitimate and reputable providers that comply with appropriate marketing. But there are some vendors, particularly online, that may be misinformed about what characterizes the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs, and as a result, they put out misleading claims about their products. Some even incorrectly advertise that they are approved by the FDA.

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

Most 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 usually results in total volume amplification. But, if you have trouble with particular frequencies, just boosting the volume proves inadequate. 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 provide a solution by being programmable to compensate for the loss of particular frequencies. They provide a more customized hearing experience by shifting frequencies you can’t hear very well to frequencies you hear better.

Feedback can be an issue

Cheap hearing aids are typically not custom fit to your ears. Without that custom fit, you’ll create a feedback loop. The microphone picks up the sound from the speaker in your ear as it wiggles around. This will generate a deafening screech.

They normally won’t help you on your cellphone

When people are looking for a budget-friendly device, they frequently sacrifice functionality like Bluetooth capability. When considering phone connectivity, the lack of Bluetooth is a huge hurdle. 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 contrast, digital hearing aids utilize telecoil or Bluetooth technology, creating a wireless connection between your hearing aid and the phone. Overall communication and clarity will be enhanced so you can be sure you will hear your daughter’s voice on the phone.

They were never meant to treat hearing loss

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

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.

Finding 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 possibilities. The first step is to get a hearing test if you suspect 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.

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