National Foundation for the Deaf in New Zealand puts out warning. We've all read; " You can "hear conversations across the room". They say that you will be hearing birds again and listening to TV at a low volume. All this and more for next to no cost... These commercials are not for hearing aids. They are for cheap "amplifiers". The difference between a real hearing aid and a cheap amplifier is that an amplifier amplifies all sound, while a hearing aid will amplify only certain ranges of sound.
NFD (NZ Says):
The most common form of hearing loss is high frequency hearing loss, also known as age related hearing loss. This type of loss effects the high ranges of sound. If you fall into this category then you probably have problems understanding speech in the presence of background noise. For example, you're in a crowded restaurant with loud background sounds. Sufferers of high frequency hearing loss are probably having a hard time carrying on a conversation at the table because of the background interference. Now imagine putting on one of those amplifiers a seen on TV. Sure, the conversation got louder, but so did the background noise!
Open Fit hearing aids were introduced a few years back to help people that suffer from high frequency hearing loss. The vented "open ear" design allows ambient sounds to pass through your ear canal, while simultaneously giving you much needed amplification of the high frequency sounds. This allows you to naturally hear the sounds that you don't have a problem with, while amplifying the sounds that you are having difficulty with, resulting in balanced hearing.
Unlike what those TV ads say, a hearing instrument isn't supposed to give you super hearing powers so you can spy on people whispering across the room. They are designed to correct your hearing deficiencies, resulting in as normal hearing as best as can be obtained. Be smart and stay away from those As Seen On TV amplifiers!
To go from having good hearing and being able to fully participate with family and friends, to living in a world where hearing loss becomes a distressing every day reality can be very challenging. Add to this the belief that you are unable to afford to pay for hearing aids and you then have the perfect scene for internet-based businesses to hawk cheap hearing aids that probably do not meet the specific hearing support needs of many vulnerable hearing impaired New Zealanders.
1:6 or over 700,000 New Zealanders live with hearing loss and this group is increasingly being targeted by internet operators, which is very concerning to Louise Carroll, CEO, of The National Foundation for the Deaf Inc.
Ms Carroll advises "Hearing aids are medical devices that need to be clinically prescribed by appropriately skilled health professionals and should not be simply purchased over the internet". Also, it is a myth, bordering on urban legend that all hearing aids are too expensive as there are a wide range of inexpensive hearing aids available that can be prescribed by properly qualified health professionals.
The National Foundation for the Deaf Inc. strongly warns against purchasing hearing aids on-line and recommends all who are considering it to call us first on 0800 867 446 to discuss their options or if using a telephone is a challenge to visit our website at www.nfd.org.nz to read about their options.
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