Who doesn’t enjoy getting a good bargain? But when it comes to your health, be careful what you buy and keep your eye on the little details.
We know, it can be confusing, the names are pretty similar, but hearing aids and hearing amplifiers are not equivalent. And your overall hearing and health could suffer severe repercussions if you make the wrong decision about this.
What is a hearing amplifier?
A small device that goes inside of your ear, a hearing amplifier raises the volume of external sound. These tend to be quite simple, one-dimensional devices which the government classifies as personal sound amplification devices. A hearing amplifier is like turning the volume up on the world.
Because of their one-size-fits-all approach, hearing amplifiers aren’t recommended for individuals who have moderate to significant hearing loss.
Distinct difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers
It begins to become fairly obvious 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 encouraged for those with hearing loss.
Both kinds of devices are capable of raising the volume of external sound. But one of these devices has a much higher degree of amplification technology and sophistication.
- Picking out and amplifying speech is one of the primary features of a hearing aid. Because communication is so essential in our lives and also because of the irregular way hearing loss develops, this is an important function. So this function has been prioritized by hearing aid manufacturers who have put significant resources into improving it. There are sophisticated algorithms and processes working inside of hearing aids to make sure that, even in a crowded and noisy room, voices come through loud and clear.
- With hearing aids, only particular wavelengths of sound are boosted. That’s because people tend to lose their hearing one frequency at a time. Wavelengths at the higher and lower end of the spectrum are usually the first to go. Hearing aids work to fill in the gaps in your hearing rather than just making everything louder. For people who have hearing loss, this selective approach is more effective.
- Hearing aids can be tuned to your environment. There are numerous factors that will determine the specific acoustics of a space. Some hearing aids can adjust to these changes automatically. Other models can be calibrated with a smartphone or a dedicated device. By making small adjustments to the settings of your hearing aid, you’re able to hear better in a wider variety of settings, meaning there will be fewer locations you want to avoid.
To put it bluntly, properly treating hearing loss depends on these capabilities. And these are attributes that are not present in most personal hearing amplifiers.
Finding the best solution at an affordable price
Along with a decreased ability to hear, neglected hearing loss can also result in cognitive decline. With amplifiers, you’re very likely to do more harm to your hearing as the device doesn’t differentiate frequencies and will most likely turn everything up to unsafe volumes. And that’s not good for anybody.
Currently, the only recommended treatments for hearing loss, if it’s not 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. General healthcare costs have been found to increase by over 40% with neglected hearing loss. The good news is, there are affordable options. Just ask us.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077
