We all love a good bargain. But when it comes to your health, be careful what you buy and pay attention to the little details.
The names “hearing aid” and “hearing amplifier” might seem similar but they are actually completely different devices. And your overall hearing and health could suffer severe repercussions if you make the wrong choice about this.
What is a hearing amplifier?
A hearing amplifier is a little device that, when put in your ear, increases the volume of the sounds around you. These are generally really simple, one-dimensional devices which the government classifies as personal sound amplification devices. The volume of the world is basically turned up.
Because of their one-size-fits-all strategy, hearing amplifiers are not recommended for people who have moderate to significant hearing loss.
Clear difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers
It starts 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. Of course, hearing aids are appropriate for individuals with hearing loss.
Both hearing aids and hearing amplifiers make things louder. The primary difference between the two devices is how sophisticated that amplification is.
- Hearing aids are specially designed to help you hear speech. Because communication is so essential in our lives and also because of the uneven way hearing loss develops, this is an important function. So this function has been prioritized by hearing aid producers who have put considerable resources into enhancing it. There are state-of-the-art algorithms and processes working inside of hearing aids to ensure that, even in a crowded and noisy space, 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 factors. Some hearing aids can fine tune to these changes automatically. Other models can be adjusted with a smartphone or a dedicated device. You will avoid fewer places because you will be capable of hearing better in a wider variety of settings as your hearing aids make minute adjustments.
- Hearing aids are designed to pick out and boost certain frequencies of sound. Because hearing loss often advances wavelength by wavelength. Wavelengths at the higher and lower end of the scale are usually the first to go. Instead of making everything louder, hearing aids work to plug holes in what you’re hearing. For individuals who have hearing loss, this selective approach is more effective.
Bottom line, these features are crucial components of correctly managing hearing loss. And these are attributes that are not present in most personal hearing amplifiers.
The right deal for your ears
Along with a diminished ability to hear, untreated hearing loss can also lead to cognitive decline. With amplifiers, you’re likely to do more damage to your hearing because the device doesn’t differentiate frequencies and will most likely turn everything up to unsafe volumes. And who wants to do that?
Right now, the only approved treatments for hearing loss, if it isn’t a result of earwax, are some surgeries and hearing aids. You won’t save any money in the long run by neglecting to get treatment for your hearing loss. Neglected hearing loss has been shown to increase your overall healthcare costs over 40%. The good news is, there are budget friendly options. Just ask us.
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References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077