Difference between Hearing Amplifier and Hearing Aid
Although performing a similar purpose, hearing amplifiers and hearing aids cannot be used as a replacement for each other.
There are features that set them apart. Let us dive into the hearing amplifier vs. hearing aid analysis to find out about their differences.
Hearing Amplifier vs. Hearing Aid: Brief Overview
The primary difference between hearing amplifiers and hearing aids is that amplifiers amplify the environmental noises, but the aids do much more than that. Depending on your hearing problem, they adjust the distortions to help you listen better.
Even though both share the same technology and same purpose, there are some key gaps in operating.
You must know the assistance type that you need to ensure the right solution to your hearing loss. Do not choose the wrong option and incur further ear damage.
What Is a Hearing Amplifier?
Hearing amplifiers are electronic devices that amplify all types of sounds in your surroundings to hear louder sounds. The best thing about these units is that they require no prescription, meaning there is no need to visit a hearing professional.
Even more, they come at a budget-friendly price. Before the low price gets you hooked, know what the hearing amplifiers can do and what they cannot.
Only people with completely functional hearing should use these. They are not designed for people with hearing loss.
Personal hearing amplifiers function by boosting noises around you – without any differentiation. Therefore, they are unable to crystallize or isolate nearby sounds that one might have trouble hearing.
Using hearing amplifiers when you are suffering from hearing loss will bring more damage to the ears, as the sounds around you will have boosted volume.
However, there are some major reasons to use hearing amplifiers. For parents, hearing amplifiers make it easier to listen to babies crying or children playing outside.
Other uses involve straining to listen to bird noises or increase the volume of theatre production. This is why bird watchers and hunters use them.
What Is Hearing Aid?
Hearing aids are electronic devices made to help the ones with hearing loss to hear clearly. With their complex features and programs, hearing aids reduce background noises and enhance high-frequency hearing.
Not only this, but they also improve other sounds that you might be struggling to listen to, alongside enhancing speech clarity.
People with hearing loss lose their high-frequency listening while retaining the ability to listen to low-frequency sounds.
Thus, people with hearing losses are unable to hear high-frequency speech but easily catch the music bass notes from a car passing by.
Audiologists prescribe hearing aids depending on your audiogram. The price of hearing aids is a tad bit higher due to the complexities involved.
Furthermore, hearing aids boast special features besides enhancing hearing quality. Some of these are:
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Syncing with the app for the user and others like caretakers
- Artificial Intelligence
- Tinnitus relief
- Noise reduction in a digital way
Main Differences between Hearing Amplifier and Hearing Aid
1. Hearing amplifiers can be bought easily without needing any prescription. Unlike them, hearing aids need an audiological prescription after evaluation. Just like any eyewear prescription, this prescription is distinctively yours.
2. The hearing amplifiers cannot correct any hearing loss. Instead, if worn by a hearing loss patient, they might worsen the problem. Hearing aids recognize the particular sounds you are struggling with and make them louder and clearer on the flip side.
3. Hearing aids need to undergo much engineering to uphold the power consumption and sustain battery life. In the case of hearing amplifiers, such complex engineering is not required.
4. Amplifiers cannot differentiate sound or isolate particular sound frequencies that you might not hear. Hearing aids can crystallize those sounds, helping you listen better,
5. Hearing amplifiers can be easily worn by anyone. As for the hearing aids, audiologists or special hearing aid professionals need to fit them on the ears.
6. Hearing amplifiers do not last very long. In contrast, hearing aids can perform perfectly for up to 3-6 years. This, however, depends on your usage and the battery life.
7. Price-wise, hearing amplifier do not cost much as it is simple to buy and use. Hearing aids, considering their excellent features, is slightly expensive, though.
Recommended for You:
A Comparison Table of Hearing Amplifier and Aid
| Parameter for Comparison | Hearing Amplifiers | Hearing Aid |
| Prescription | You do not need to go to an audiologist to get these. | As hearing aids are clinical devices, audiologists arrange and customize each device suited to a person’s unique hearing issue. |
| Distortion reduction | Amplifiers boost the environmental sound. They lack distortion reduction, so distracting background sounds enter your eyes that might cause you more harm. | Aids recognize the particular sound you are having trouble with and reduces distortion to a maximum level. |
| Price | Hearing amplifiers come at a significantly lower price. | Hearing aids cost more due to the special features that enable you to solve your hearing loss. |
| Range of exclusive features | They have a very low range of unique features. | Hearing aids include a range of exclusive features like digital noise reduction and Bluetooth capability. |
Key Takeaways
- Both are electronic devices, helping to enhance sound.
- Before deciding which method to go for, visit an audiologist for a diagnosis. Also check out our article about prognosis vs diagnosis.
- Though both help to listen better, hearing amplifiers lack the hearing correction level that hearing aids offer.
- Other noises that enter through the hearing amplifiers might end up doing more harm than good.
- Usually, hearing aids are considered medical devices. In contrast, amplifiers are thought to be unregulated consumer devices.
Final Words
So that is a wrap for the hearing amplifier vs. hearing aid comparison! Now we know that hearing amplifiers can never be considered as a replacement for hearing aids.
The amplifiers do not offer an equal level of hearing rectification that hearing aids usually do. While hearing amplifiers continue to amplify all the frequencies, hearing aids are uniquely designed to optimize only the sounds one faces.
Despite the high price, hearing aids are better suited to meet people’s needs than hearing amplifiers.
To sum up, we would recommend seeing any hearing professional or audiologist before choosing which device to use.
