We all love a good bargain. But when it has to do with your health, be careful what you purchase and keep your eye on the small details.
The terms “hearing aid” and “hearing amplifier” might seem similar but they are actually completely different devices. And making the wrong selection could have important implications for your hearing and your general health.
Hearing amplifiers
A little device that goes in your ear, a hearing amplifier increases the volume of external sound. These are generally very simple, one-dimensional devices which the government classifies as personal sound amplification devices. A hearing amplifier is like cranking the volume up on the world.
Because of their one-size-fits-all approach, hearing amplifiers are not appropriate for people who have moderate to significant hearing loss.
Distinct difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers
It begins to become pretty apparent that hearing aids are not the same as hearing amplification devices when you recognize that amplifiers are not recommended for people with even moderate hearing loss. Of course, hearing aids are appropriate for people with hearing loss.
Both kinds of devices are capable of raising the volume of outside sound. But one of these devices has a much higher degree of amplification technology and sophistication.
- Hearing aids can be calibrated for your environment. The acoustics of any given place will change depending on a long list of factors. These adjustments can even happen automatically with some modern hearing aids. Other models can be calibrated using a smartphone or a dedicated device. You will avoid fewer locations because you will be able to hear better in a wider variety of places as your hearing aids make little adjustments.
- Hearing aids are designed to pick out and magnify specific wavelengths of sound. Because hearing loss often progresses wavelength by wavelength. Frequencies at the higher and lower end of the spectrum are usually the first to go. Hearing aids work to fill in the holes in your hearing rather than just making everything louder. This selective strategy is a lot more beneficial for individuals with hearing loss.
- Hearing aids are specifically designed to help you understand speech. In part, that’s the result of the irregular way hearing loss develops, but it’s also because communication is such an essential function of your hearing. So this function has been prioritized by hearing aid manufacturers who have put substantial resources into improving it. In order to make sure voices come through clearly even in a crowded room, state-of-the-art technology and algorithms are packed inside of modern hearing aids.
To put it bluntly, correctly treating hearing loss depends on these capabilities. Usually, personal amplifiers don’t have these abilities.
The right deal for your ears
Neglected hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, not to mention increasingly diminished ability to hear. Because amplifiers don’t distinguish between frequencies, if you turn them up enough to hear what you’re missing, you’ll probably have it up too loud for other frequencies….and do additional damage. And that’s not good for anybody.
Unless your hearing loss is being caused by earwax, hearing aids and certain surgeries are the only authorized treatment options for hearing loss right now. Dismissing hearing loss and avoiding treatment doesn’t save you money ultimately. Overall healthcare costs have been shown to increase by over 40% with neglected hearing loss. The good news is, there are budget friendly options. We can help.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077
