Who doesn’t love finding a good bargain? But you need to be careful and look out for little details in regards to your health.
The names “hearing aid” and “hearing amplifier” might seem similar but they are actually entirely different devices. And making the wrong selection could have significant implications for your hearing and your overall health.
What is a hearing amplifier?
A small device that goes in your ear, a hearing amplifier increases the volume of outside sound. Technically classified as personal sound amplification products by the government, these gadgets tend to be very simple and one-dimensional. The volume of the world is basically cranked up.
Because of their one-size-fits-all strategy, hearing amplifiers aren’t appropriate for people who have moderate to extensive hearing loss.
Distinct difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers
It begins to become fairly apparent that hearing aids aren’t the same as hearing amplification devices when you consider that amplifiers are not recommended for people with even moderate hearing loss. Hearing aids, obviously, are recommended for people who suffer from hearing loss.
Both hearing aids and hearing amplifiers make things louder. But one of these devices has a much higher level of amplification technology and sophistication.
- Hearing aids are designed to select and boost certain wavelengths of sound. That’s because people tend to lose their hearing one frequency at a time. Either high-frequency sounds or low-frequency sounds commonly fade first. Instead of making everything louder, hearing aids work to plug holes in what you’re hearing. For people who have hearing loss, this selective approach is more effective.
- Hearing aids are specifically manufactured to help you understand speech. To some extent, that’s the result of the irregular way hearing loss progresses, but it’s also because communication is such an important function of your hearing. As a result, hearing aid makers have invested enormous resources into maximizing the clarity of speech above all else. There are sophisticated algorithms and processes working within hearing aids to ensure that, even in a crowded and noisy room, voices come through loud and clear.
- Hearing aids can be calibrated for your environment. The acoustics of any given space will change depending on a long list of variables. These adjustments can even be made automatically with some modern hearing aids. Others can be adjusted using a smartphone or a dedicated device. You will avoid fewer places because you will be able to hear better in a wider variety of settings as your hearing aids make minute adjustments.
Simply put, these features are crucial components of correctly treating hearing loss. And these are qualities that are not present in most personal hearing amplifiers.
Finding the best option at an affordable price
Neglected hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline, along with increasingly diminished ability to hear. With amplifiers, you’re likely to do more damage to your hearing as the device doesn’t distinguish frequencies and will most likely turn everything up to unsafe levels. And that isn’t good for anybody.
Right now, the only approved treatments for hearing loss, if it’s not a result of earwax, are certain surgeries and hearing aids. Neglecting hearing loss and avoiding treatment doesn’t save you money ultimately. Untreated hearing loss has been demonstrated to increase your general healthcare costs over 40%. The good news is, there are budget friendly options. Just ask us.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077