When you first start looking for hearing aids, you might realize that some hearing aids are significantly more expensive than others, which could make you consider cheap hearing aids as an alternative. The question is – are cheap hearing aids worth buying?
Hearing aids might look the same or, at the very least, quite similar to one another. However, if you test out two distinct pairs, you are sure to find that there is a considerable difference between cheap hearing aids and high-quality devices.
There are two separate connotations associated with the word “cheap.” It can also indicate inexpensive, making it a good purchase for someone who is frugal. In other contexts, though, it denotes a lack of quality. When considered in this light, the popular adage “you get what you pay for” applies particularly well to situations in which one is considering the purchase of an inexpensive item.
Cheap hearing aids just make everything louder
Most cheap “hearing aids” can function in only two ways: they have the ability to amplify everything and give you the option to lower the volume. That means that if you turn the volume up to hear the TV or radio, you will also hear the traffic outside, the lawn mower from the next-door neighbor, the washing machine, and other mundane sounds that you need not hear.
If everything were to become louder, it would totally undermine the purpose of wearing a hearing aid in the first place.
Not only can a high-quality, up-to-date hearing aid make sounds louder, but it also has other benefits. It controls the volume of the sound, allowing you to focus on what you want to hear while pushing everything else to the background. Hearing aids that are effective at imitating natural hearing do so in a manner that is more faithful to the wearer’s individual hearing demands. This is a feature that cheap hearing aids lack.
It is in your best interest to leave your cheap hearing aids at home when you go to the movies, dine at a restaurant, or visit a crowded place. This is because inexpensive hearing aids are unable to differentiate between background noise and the sounds that you need to hear.
Cheap hearing aids are also often hearing aids purchased without professional service. It is a well-known fact that hearing aids are a “care” and “maintenance” game, meaning, that in order for the user to achieve maximum benefit, they need to be programmed, monitored, and maintained by a professional (usually an audiologist).
Hearing aid mechanics, ear canal shape and size, degree of hearing loss, exposure to moisture and wax, and ALL the maintenance required to continually manage this ever-evolving situation is why audiologists get to know their patients so well.
Can cheap hearing aids address different types of hearing loss?
If you purchase an inexpensive hearing aid, you will notice that everything is much louder. If you are unable to hear particular frequencies, then increasing the volume won’t help you very much at all.
With high-quality hearing aids programmed by an audiologist, the frequency that you are unable to hear can be instantaneously changed to another frequency that you are able to hear. Audiologists can set a hearing aid to compensate for your loss in certain frequencies.
Audiologists and Hearing Aids in Lawrenceville, NJ
When it comes to hearing aids, the quality of the device (and lack of professional service) directly correlates to the price. That doesn’t mean you have to spend the most money possible, though. However, if the price tag appears to be too good to be true, you will want to take a closer look at what you are receiving in exchange for the price before purchasing it.
Don’t expect too much from cheap hearing aids; in fact, it would be best if you steer away from these devices because you may just end up worsening your hearing problems.
Oracle Hearing Center has audiologists who can help you in choosing the best hearing aid suited for your unique hearing requirements. We carry a wide range of hearing aids in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!