At first glance, it seems that these are one and the same device. For a person who has never seen how these devices look and work before, it is sometimes difficult to decide what to choose in order to get a good result and not harm himself. Advertisements for audio amplifiers abound on the Internet and television. What is it and how does it differ from the classic and well-known hearing aid? Especially captivating is the fact that the cost of the amplifier is an order of magnitude lower. The temptation to save money is great, but will such savings be reflected in quality? Let's try to figure out how a hearing aid differs from a hearing amplifier.
What is a hearing amplifier
A hearing amplifier (also known as "sound amplifier") is a small device that looks like a wireless earpiece that is inserted into the ear. The device amplifies sound waves entering it from the outside. From the "filling" it has only a microphone and an amplifier directly. Despite the fact that a sound amplifier can unknowingly be confused with a hearing aid, these two devices have significant differences.
Hearing amplifiers are sold freely. To purchase such a device, you do not need to consult with doctors. Their cost, of course, is not the same everywhere, but basically it does not exceed 1000 rubles.
True, some unscrupulous sellers deliberately raise the price in order to bring the amplifiers as close as possible to well-known brands of hearing devices. In the hope that a person will consider high cost a sign of quality. Typically, ads for audio amplifiers can be seen on untrustworthy internet sites or on television. It is not possible to check the quality of such devices, there are no certificates for them. Therefore, if the buyer discovers a defect or harms his health with a low-quality device, there will definitely be no one to complain.
How a hearing aid works
A hearing aid is a special device that is usually worn behind the ear (behind the ear) or inserted into the ear canal. Its main task is to help people with hearing impairments of varying severity to hear fully. The device is equipped with a microphone, through which sound is received and converted into an electrical signal, as well as an amplifier and a receiver. The sound is conducted traditionally - through the air or through the bone. The first version of the devices is selected by an experienced audiologist, and the second can be used exclusively for severe hearing loss.
The cost of hearing aids is quite high, but the price is justified. This is a rather complicated device to manufacture, performing an extremely important function for every hearing impaired. Therefore, its functioning must be correct and uninterrupted.
Real high-quality devices can be bought exclusively in a specialized store that has a quality certificate for the products sold. As a rule, the impeccable reputation of such stores does not allow them to sell defective or counterfeit machines.
How the devices are similar and how they differ
Similarities:
- Performing essentially the same function - both help people with hearing impairments to hear sounds again and, importantly, to disassemble them.
- Similar appearance and wearing style. Both devices are inserted into the ear or attached behind it. However, the amplifier is still slightly different in shape and size.
Differences:
- The hearing amplifier does not have any protection. As a result, the user does not have the ability to accurately control the audio gain level. Thus, hearing acuity can be impaired and even completely lost.
- The purchase of an amplifier is not recommended by a doctor (in this case, an audiologist). Such a device is not configured by a specialist and is not selected individually for the needs of a particular person. After all, when it becomes necessary to acquire glasses, a person first consults with an ophthalmologist, clarifies the diagnosis (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and so on), finds out which lenses are required in his case, and only then buys those glasses that are suitable for his vision problems ... A sensible person does not buy any glasses that first come to his eyes, because in this way he will simply harm himself and will not get the desired result. Also, the hearing aid is selected by a specialist on a strictly individual basis. But the amplifier cannot be chosen like that, because all that it is capable of is amplification of all sounds and noises that pass through it at the same time.
The manufacturer of the hearing amplifier is usually not identified. Therefore, it is simply impossible to make claims about a low-quality product and sue for compensation for the funds spent on the purchase. In addition, the quality of the devices themselves is a big question, because the technology of their production is the same secret.- Despite the fact that the sound amplifier still performs this only function, it is not done correctly. And the hearing aid amplifies only those frequencies that a particular person has problems with hearing. In order to correctly select and correctly configure it, you first need to make an audiogram - a special graph that displays a person's susceptibility to different frequencies. Then, taking into account the obtained data, the specialist individually selects the device necessary for a person. Of course, the amplifier that was sent to you by mail from the online store was not picked up or configured by anyone. Whether he will fit or not - no one knows.
The manufacturer of the hearing amplifier is usually not identified. Therefore, it is simply impossible to make claims about a low-quality product and sue for compensation for the funds spent on the purchase. In addition, the quality of the devices themselves is a big question, because the technology of their production is the same secret.Advantages and disadvantages of the apparatus
| Sound amplifiers | pros | Low cost. The most economical amplifier costs less than 1000 rubles. If it suddenly turns out that the device did not fit, the financial losses will be significantly less. The range of models is quite diverse: there are both very miniature devices and devices made in the form of bluetooth headsets for mobile phones. Comfort and ease of use: no specific settings are required, you just need to turn on the device and select the desired volume level. |
| Minuses | Not suitable for everyone. Does not solve the problem with severe hearing loss or ear canal damage. There is no selectivity, it amplifies all sounds in a row - including noises. | |
| Hearing Aids | pros | The ability to choose the most suitable model individually. A very high percentage of positive solutions to hearing problems (the user gets exactly the result he expects). This is a medical device, therefore, during the production process, it is additionally checked for defects. |
| Minuses | Quite a high cost - not everyone can afford such an acquisition. Before you buy a device, you need to take the time to pick it up at a specialized hearing care center. And even a device carefully selected by a specialist sometimes does not give a 100% guarantee that it will ideally suit the user. |
Let's summarize
So, the sound amplifier, as it has already become clear, is not a very useful device for a hearing impaired person. Despite advertising assurances that you will be great to hear with it again, the result may even be the opposite. After all, you need to select a device to improve hearing, taking into account the specific problems and needs of each individual person. If the device is chosen incorrectly, it will not bring anything but inconvenience and harm.
A hearing aid is an expensive but high quality device that provides real help to people with hearing loss.
Thus, hearing amplifiers and hearing aids, the difference, harm and benefits of which we have already considered, are completely different devices. Don't fall for deceptive advertisements, and if a specialist recommends you get a hearing aid, you definitely don't need a hearing amplifier.
