Who doesn’t enjoy finding a good bargain? But you should be careful and be aware of small 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 equivalent. And your overall hearing and health could suffer major consequences if you make the wrong decision about this.

What is a hearing amplifier?

A little device that goes in your ear, a hearing amplifier increases the volume of outside sound. Technically categorized as personal sound amplification products by the government, these devices tend to be quite simple and one-dimensional. The volume of the world is basically cranked up.

Because of their one-size-fits-all strategy, hearing amplifiers are not recommended for individuals who have moderate to extensive hearing loss.

Distinct difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers

Once people learn that hearing amplifiers aren’t suggested for individuals with even moderate hearing loss, the differences between the two devices start to become pretty stark. Hearing aids, obviously, are recommended for individuals 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 made to pick out and boost certain frequencies of sound. Because hearing loss often advances wavelength by wavelength. Either high-frequency sounds or low-frequency sounds commonly vanish first. Instead of making everything louder, hearing aids work to plug holes in what you’re hearing. This selective approach is far more beneficial for individuals with hearing loss.
• Hearing aids are specially designed to help you process speech. Because communication is so central in our lives and also because of the irregular way hearing loss progresses, this is an important function. So this function has been prioritized by hearing aid producers who have put considerable resources into enhancing it. In order to make sure voices can be heard clearly even in a noisy room, state-of-the-art technology and algorithms are packed inside of modern hearing aids.
• Whatever environment you find yourself, your hearing aids can tune in to it. There are numerous variables that will influence the specific acoustics of a space. These adjustments can even be made automatically with some modern hearing aids. Others can be calibrated 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 places as your hearing aids make minute adjustments.

To put it bluntly, correctly managing hearing loss depends on these features. And these are features that are not present in the majority of personal hearing amplifiers.

Finding the best option at an affordable price

Untreated hearing loss can cause cognitive decline, along with increasingly diminished ability to hear. With amplifiers, you’re likely to do more harm to your hearing because the device doesn’t differentiate frequencies and will most likely turn everything up to unsafe levels. And that’s not good for anyone.

Right now, the only approved treatments for hearing loss, if it isn’t a result of earwax, are certain surgeries and hearing aids. Ignoring hearing loss and avoiding treatment doesn’t save you money long term. Untreated hearing loss has been shown to increase your general healthcare costs more than 40 percent. Luckily, there are affordable options. Just ask us.

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References

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