Who doesn’t love getting a good bargain? But when it involves your health, be careful what you buy and keep your eye on the little details.
The terms “hearing aid” and “hearing amplifier” might seem similar but they are actually very different devices. And making the wrong choice could have significant implications for your hearing and your general health.
What is a hearing amplifier?
A little device that goes in your ear, a hearing amplifier increases the volume of outside sound. These tend to be quite simple, one-dimensional devices which the government classifies as personal sound amplification devices. The volume of the world is basically cranked up.
Because of their one-size-fits-all approach, hearing amplifiers aren’t appropriate for individuals who have moderate to extensive hearing loss.
Distinct difference between hearing aids and personal amplifiers
It begins 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. Hearing aids, obviously, are encouraged for people with hearing loss.
Both types 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.
- Whatever environment you find yourself, your hearing aids can calibrate to it. The acoustics of any given place will change depending on a list of variables. Some hearing aids can adjust to these changes automatically. A dedicated device or smartphone can tune hearing aids that don’t do it automatically. You will avoid fewer locations because you will be capable of hearing better in a wider variety of places as your hearing aids make little adjustments.
- Hearing aids are designed to identify and boost certain frequencies of sound. Because hearing loss frequently advances frequency by frequency. Frequencies at the higher and lower end of the scale are generally the first to go. Hearing aids work to fill in the holes in your hearing rather than just making everything louder. For individuals who have hearing loss, this selective approach is more effective.
- Hearing aids are specifically manufactured to help you process speech. To some extent, that’s the result of the uneven way hearing loss develops, but it’s also because communication is such a fundamental function of your hearing. So this function has been prioritized by hearing aid makers who have put substantial resources into improving it. There are sophisticated algorithms and processes working within hearing aids to make sure that, even in a crowded and noisy space, voices come through clearly.
Bottom line, these capabilities are crucial elements of effectively treating hearing loss. Usually, personal amplifiers don’t have these abilities.
Finding the best option at an affordable price
Along with a decreased ability to hear, untreated hearing loss can also result in cognitive decline. With amplifiers, you’re likely to do more damage to your hearing because the device doesn’t distinguish frequencies and will most likely turn everything up to unsafe levels. And who needs to do that?
Currently, the only recommended treatments for hearing loss, if it isn’t a result of earwax, are some surgeries and hearing aids. You won’t save any money long term by failing to get treatment for your hearing loss. Overall healthcare costs have been found to increase by more than 40% with neglected hearing loss. Fortunately, there are affordable solutions. We can help.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077
