We all enjoy a good bargain. But you should be careful and look out for little details in regards to your health.

We know, it can be confusing, the names are very similar, but hearing aids and hearing amplifiers are not the same. And making the wrong choice could have significant implications for your hearing and your general health.

Hearing amplifiers

A hearing amplifier is a small device that, when placed in your ear, increases the volume of the sounds around you. Technically categorized as personal sound amplification products by the government, these gadgets tend to be very basic and one-dimensional. The volume of the world is essentially cranked up.

These devices are typically not recommended for individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss because of their one-size-fits-all approach.

Clear difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers

Once people learn that hearing amplifiers are not suggested for people with even moderate hearing loss, the differences between the two devices start to become rather stark. Hearing aids, obviously, are encouraged for individuals who suffer from hearing loss.

Both hearing aids and hearing amplifiers have the ability to increase volumes. But one of these devices has a much higher degree of amplification technology and sophistication.

• Hearing aids are designed to identify and magnify 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 typically disappear first. Hearing aids work to fill in the gaps in your hearing rather than just making everything louder. For individuals who have hearing loss, this selective approach is more effective.
• Selecting and amplifying speech is one of the main functions of a hearing aid. Because communication is so essential in our lives and also because of the uneven way hearing loss progresses, this is an important function. So this function has been prioritized by hearing aid producers who have put significant resources into enhancing it. In order to make certain voices can be heard clearly even in a crowded room, advanced technology and algorithms are packed inside of modern hearing aids.
• Hearing aids can be calibrated for your environment. There are a number of factors that will affect the specific acoustics of a space. These adjustments can even happen automatically with some modern hearing aids. Other models can be adjusted with a smartphone or a dedicated device. You will avoid fewer locations because you will be capable of hearing better in a wider variety of settings as your hearing aids make minute adjustments.

To put it bluntly, properly treating hearing loss depends on these features. In most cases, personal amplifiers don’t have these abilities.

Finding the best solution at an affordable price

Along with a diminished ability to hear, untreated hearing loss can also result in mental decline. Because amplifiers don’t differentiate between frequencies, if you raise the volume enough to hear what you’re missing, you’ll probably have it up too loud for other frequencies….and do additional damage. And that isn’t good for anyone.

Right now, the only approved treatments for hearing loss, if it’s not a result of earwax, are certain surgeries and hearing aids. You won’t save any money in the long run by failing to get treatment for your hearing loss. Overall healthcare costs have been found to increase by over 40% with neglected hearing loss. Luckily, there are affordable options. We can help.

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References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077