Millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss are hesitant to correct it. One of the primary reasons is the prohibitive cost — even inexpensive custom hearing aids can run in the thousands of dollars, and are rarely if ever covered by insurance. While people of all ages suffer from hearing loss, older people — who are often on fixed incomes — are affected in much higher percentages. Because of this, mass-produced sound amplifiers from retailers like Radio Shack are gaining in popularity.
These inexpensive hearing aid-like devices retail for less than $50. However, while pricier hearing aids come equipped with nifty features and can be programmed to fit your level and type of hearing loss, these inexpensive sound amplifiers do that and just that: make sounds louder. They won’t mask tinnitus or help you hear high frequency sounds. Despite this, they still have some usefulness: if you are watching television at home, and don’t wish to wake anyone else up, this devices can help augment the sound.
In the end, however, using the most inexpensive hearing aids as an everyday device can be dangerous. While sound amplification is better than nothing at all for those suffering from hearing loss, there are still safety and lifestyle issues they are unequipped to properly combat. Reviews suggest that they fare poorly in crowded or noisy environments, where being able to focus on certain sounds is of more importance than just the level of the volume. If you live in a big city, relying strictly on one of these devices while walking around could be dangerous.
Custom hearing aids are pricey, but the technology can help improve or even save your life. But, if you need a quick stopgap for personal home use, inexpensive mass-produced hearing aids could be of help.
Tags: custom hearing aids, inexpensive hearing aids, Radio Shack
