Who doesn’t love getting a good bargain? But you need to be careful and look out for small details in regards to your health.
The terms “hearing aid” and “hearing amplifier” may seem similar but they are actually very different devices. And making the wrong choice could have important implications for your hearing and your overall health.
Hearing amplifiers
A small device that goes inside of your ear, a hearing amplifier raises the volume of outside sound. These tend to be really simple, one-dimensional devices which the government categorizes as personal sound amplification devices. A hearing amplifier is like turning the volume up on the world.
Because of their one-size-fits-all strategy, hearing amplifiers are not 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 are not the same as hearing amplification devices when you recognize that amplifiers are not recommended for people with even moderate hearing loss. Hearing aids, obviously, are encouraged for those who suffer from hearing loss.
Both types of devices can raise the volume of external sound. But one of these devices has a much higher level of amplification technology and sophistication.
- With hearing aids, only particular frequencies of sound are amplified. Because hearing loss normally advances wavelength by wavelength. Either high-frequency sounds or low-frequency sounds commonly disappear first. Instead of making everything louder, hearing aids work to plug holes in what you’re hearing. For individuals who have hearing loss, this selective approach is more effective.
- Hearing aids can be calibrated for your environment. There are a number of variables that will influence the exact acoustics of a space. These adjustments can even be made automatically with some modern hearing aids. 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 settings as your hearing aids make minute adjustments.
- Picking out and amplifying speech is one of the primary features of a hearing aid. In part, that’s as a consequence 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 producers who have put considerable resources into improving it. There are state-of-the-art algorithms and processes working inside of hearing aids to make sure that, even in a crowded and noisy space, voices come through loud and clear.
Simply put, these features are vital elements of properly treating hearing loss. Usually, personal amplifiers don’t have these abilities.
Finding the best option at an affordable price
Neglected hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, along with increasingly diminished hearing abilities. With amplifiers, you’re very likely to do more damage to your hearing because the device doesn’t differentiate frequencies and will most likely turn everything up to unsafe volumes. And that isn’t 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. Dismissing hearing loss and avoiding treatment doesn’t save you money long term. General healthcare costs have been found to increase by over 40% with untreated hearing loss. The good news is, there are affordable options. Just ask us.
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References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373077