Recent interest in over-the-counter hearing instruments called “personal sound amplification products” (PSAPs) has been piqued by studies showing they may prove to be beneficial for certain cases of hearing loss. The primary benefit of these devices is that they are relatively inexpensive. Unlike traditional hearing instruments that are prescribed on the basis of a medical evaluation and a hearing test, PSAPs are unregulated, non-prescription devices that merely amplify environmental sounds. They are, in effect, reading glasses for the ears in that they magnify all sounds and do not target specific frequencies in ways that prescribed hearing instruments do. While PSAPs may have a place in the widening spectrum of hearing instruments, most are quite rudimentary and of limited value.
We take the responsibility very seriously of matching every patient with the hearing instruments best suited to his or her special circumstances. We then use sophisticated technology to achieve the most accurate, comfortable, custom fit. The extensive training required of certified clinical audiologists and our experience in the field make us well-suited to both tasks. Is your hearing in need of a boost? Call us at BETTER HEARING CENTER to arrange a hearing evaluation and to see the astonishing hearing instruments available today. Most insurances accepted for hearing evaluations. We are New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. A personal sound amplification product without volume/power-limiting capabilities might over-amplify loud noises and further damage the wearer’s hearing.