What Are The Fundamental Differences Between Hearing Amplifiers And Hearing Aids?
According to a report from the National Institute of Deafness And Other Communication Disorders, one out of three people over 70 and one out of six people between 18 to 70 need hearing aids. However, most people do not use it due to the high costs and lack of time to visit a hearing professional. Hearing amplifiers and hearing aids are very different from each other. But because hearing amplifiers can be easily bought and are inexpensive, therefore many people who suffer from hearing loss opt for hearing amplifiers. If you want to buy a device for hearing loss, you must go through the article to understand the differences between hearing aid and amplifiers.
The primary difference between hearing aid and amplifiers
Hearing amplifiers
The digital hearing amplifier is also a unique sound amplifying product. Unlike hearing aids, hearing amplifiers do not require a prescription. They mean that you do not have to visit a hearing aid professional to get an amplifier. Another essential difference between them is that hearing amplifiers are cheaper than hearing aids.
But, both these devices have different functions, and a hearing amplifier is not designed for correcting hearing loss. In some rare cases, hearing amplifiers can even worsen hearing loss. Most digital hearing amplifiers amplify the surrounding sound without differentiation between dialogue and noise. So in simple words, the hearing amplifier cannot distinguish or isolate specific sound frequencies so you may have difficulty hearing.
Usually, popular hearing amplifiers can help people listen to faraway noises. That is why hunters and birdwatchers use hearing amplifiers while on the field. Some professionals also recommend using hearing amplifiers over hearing aids for people with mild hearing loss.
Hearing Aid
Unlike hearing amplifiers, you have to visit an audiologist or an ENT specialist to get a hearing aid. Therefore, you have to show a prescription to buy a hearing aid from a pharmacy or an online pharmacy.
The FDA has categorized Hearing Aids as a class 1 medical device; on the other hand, hearing amplifiers are simple audio devices and are not regulated by FDA.
Hearing aids have the necessary technology to identify different sounds and make them clear and louder. With the help of a hearing aid, you will be able to follow a conversation in a noisy and crowded room.
Patients to improve their quality of hearing use a hearing Aid. Additionally, they have a lot of exclusive and modern features which hearing amplifiers do not have. Some of them include:
- Bluetooth capability
- Tinnitus relief
- Wind noise reduction
- App connectivity via smartphone
- Digital noise reduction
- Artificial intelligence to identify different types of sounds
What are the various benefits of using hearing amplifiers?
- You do not need a prescription or recommendation from a doctor to buy a hearing aid.
- They are comparatively less expensive than hearing aids
- They are easily available
- You can easily hear sounds from far away
Final Verdict
Now we come to the end of our article. We have discussed the primary distinguishing features of a hearing aid and hearing amplifier. If you face mild hearing loss, you do not need to buy an expensive hearing aid. A hearing amplifier will do just fine.