Avoiding the Biggest Mistake in Treating Your Hearing Loss
Do you recall the Q-Ray Bracelets? You know, the magnetic bracelets that promised to furnish immediate and significant pain relief from arthritis and other chronic disorders?
Well, you won’t find much of that advertising anymore; in 2008, the manufacturers of the Q-Ray Bracelets were legally obligated to give back customers a maximum of $87 million thanks to misleading and fraudulent advertising.1
The issue had to do with rendering health claims that were not endorsed by any scientific verification. For that matter, strong evidence was there to reveal that the magnetic bracelets had NO influence on pain reduction, which did not bode well for the manufacturer but did wonders to win the court case for the Federal Trade Commission.2
The wishful thinking fallacy
Fine, so the Q-Ray bracelets didn’t work (outside of the placebo effect), yet they sold amazingly well. What gives?
Without delving into the depths of human psychology, the straight forward response is that we have a strong bias to believe in the things that may appear to make our lives better and quite a bit easier.
On an emotional level, you’d love to believe that wearing a $50 wristband will eliminate your pain and that you don’t have to trouble yourself with high-cost medical and surgical treatments.
If, for example, you happen to suffer from chronic arthritis in your knee, which decision sounds more appealing?
a. Arranging surgery for a complete knee replacement
b. Taking a trip to the mall to pick up a magnetized bracelet
Your instinct is to give the bracelet a try. You already desire to believe that the bracelet will get the job done, so now all you need is a little push from the marketers and some social confirmation from seeing other people donning them.
But it is precisely this natural instinct, combined with the tendency to seek out confirming evidence, that will get you into the most trouble.
If it sounds too good to be true…
Bearing in mind the Q-Ray bracelets, let’s say you’re having difficulties from hearing loss; which choice sounds more desirable?
a. Booking an appointment with a hearing professional and getting professionally programmed hearing aids
b. Purchasing an off-the-shelf personal sound amplifier online for 20 dollars
Just like the magnetized wristband seems much more appealing than a visit to the doctor or surgeon, the personal sound amplifier seems to be much more appealing than a trip to the audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.
Nevertheless, as with the magnetic wristbands, personal sound amplifiers won’t cure anything, either.
The difference between hearing aids and personal sound amplifiers
Before you get the wrong idea, I’m not proposing that personal sound amplifiers, also referred to as PSAPs, are fraudulent — or even that they don’t function.
On the contrary, personal sound amplifiers often do give good results. Just like hearing aids, personal sound amplifiers consist of a receiver, a microphone, and an amplifier that detect sound and make it louder. Considered on that level, personal sound amplifiers work reasonably well — and for that matter, so does the act of cupping your hands behind your ears.
However when you ask if PSAPs work, you’re asking the wrong question. The questions you should be asking are:
- How well do they function?
- For which type of people do they function best?
These are exactly the questions that the FDA addressed when it released its guidelines on the difference between hearing aids and personal sound amplifiers.
According to the FDA, hearing aids are classified as “any wearable instrument or device designed for, offered for the purpose of, or represented as aiding persons with or compensating for, impaired hearing.” (21 CFR 801.420)3
On the other hand, personal sound amplifiers are “intended to amplify environmental sound for non-hearing impaired consumers. They are not intended to compensate for hearing impairment.”
Despite the fact that the difference is transparent, it’s simple for PSAP manufacturers and retailers to avoid the distinction by simply not bringing it up. For example, on a PSAP package, you might find the tagline “turning ordinary hearing into extraordinary hearing.” This claim is imprecise enough to skirt the matter completely without having to define exactly what the expression “turning ordinary hearing into extraordinary hearing” even means.
You get what you pay for
As stated by the FDA, PSAPs are straightforward amplification devices designed for those with normal hearing. So if you have normal hearing, and you want to hear better while hunting, bird watching, or listening in to far off conversations, then a $20 PSAP is perfect for you.
If you have hearing loss, however, then you’ll require professionally programmed hearing aids. Whereas more costly, hearing aids have the power and features needed to correct hearing loss. Listed below are some of the reasons why hearing aids are superior to PSAPs:
- Hearing aids amplify only the frequencies that you have difficulty hearing, while PSAPs amplify all sound indiscriminately. By amplifying all frequencies, PSAPs won’t make it easy for you to hear conversations in the presence of background noise, like when you’re at a party or restaurant.
- Hearing aids have integrated noise reduction and canceling features, while PSAPs do not.
- Hearing aids are programmable and can be perfected for optimum hearing; PSAPs are not programmable.
- Hearing aids contain various features that block out background noise, permit phone use, and provide for wireless connectivity, for example. PSAPs do not typically come with any of these features.
- Hearing aids come in a variety of styles and are custom-molded for maximum comfort and cosmetic appeal. PSAPs are as a rule one-size-fits-all.
Seek the help of a hearing professional
If you think you have hearing loss, don’t be tempted by the low-priced PSAPs; instead, arrange an appointment with a hearing specialist. They will be able to precisely measure your hearing loss and will make sure that you get the most effective hearing aid for your lifestyle and needs. So while the low-cost PSAPs are tempting, in this scenario you should go with your better judgment and seek professional help. Your hearing is worth the hassle.