Retirement Living takes an unbiased approach to our reviews. We may earn money when you click a partner link. Learn More
Hearing Aids vs. Hearing Amplifiers
From affordable hearing amplifiers to advanced hearing aids, hearing devices vary in style, technology, and suitability based on your hearing needs.
Updated:
At a glance:
- Hearing amplifiers (PSAPs) increase surrounding sounds and are available without a prescription, but they’re intended for adults with perceived mild hearing difficulty and don’t filter background noise as effectively as hearing aids.
- Hearing aids are regulated medical devices that may be purchased through a hearing professional or over the counter (OTC), depending on the severity of hearing loss. They offer advanced features such as noise reduction, speech enhancement, and personalized sound adjustments.
- Choosing between a hearing amplifier and a hearing aid depends on your degree of hearing loss, medical needs, daily life, and budget. A professional hearing exam is recommended before deciding.
Hearing amplifiers can help some people have better hearing and usually cost less than hearing aids, but they aren’t the right solution for everyone. Hearing aids are regulated medical devices, while hearing amplifiers can typically be ordered online and in retail stores without a prescription. Comparing hearing amplifiers and hearing aids can help you better understand how each device works before choosing a hearing solution.
Choosing between hearing aids and hearing amplifiers is an important part of maintaining long-term hearing health, since hearing aids are designed to support diagnosed hearing loss while amplifiers only increase overall sound volume without addressing underlying hearing needs. They differ significantly in functionality, with hearing aids offering personalized sound processing and loud sound reduction based on individual hearing loss, while amplifiers simply increase overall sound volume without advanced adjustments.
How Hearing Aids Work
Hearing aids are electronic medical devices designed to improve hearing by amplifying and processing sound. Unlike basic hearing amplifiers, hearing aids are programmed to match a person’s specific hearing needs and can help improve speech clarity in a variety of listening environments.
Most hearing aids use a microphone to pick up surrounding sounds, a processor to adjust and filter them, and a speaker to deliver the enhanced audio to the ear. Modern devices can automatically adjust volume levels and reduce background noise to make conversations easier to understand.
Hearing aids are available in several styles, including behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), completely-in-canal (CIC), and invisible-in-canal (IIC) models. Some hearing aids are nearly invisible when worn, while others are larger to accommodate more features or longer battery life.
Many modern hearing aids also include advanced technology, such as:
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Rechargeable batteries
- Smartphone app controls
- Directional microphones
- Feedback suppression
- Tinnitus masking features
Prescription hearing aids are professionally programmed based on a hearing exam, while OTC hearing aids allow adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss to adjust settings themselves. In either case, hearing aids are designed to improve communication and listening comfort rather than simply making all sounds louder.
Because hearing aids process speech differently from background sounds, they are often more effective than hearing amplifiers in noisy environments such as restaurants, social gatherings, or crowded public spaces.
Should You Buy Hearing Aids?
Hearing aids can significantly improve communication, daily activities, and overall quality of life for people with hearing loss. If you frequently struggle to hear conversations, turn the television volume up too high, or have difficulty hearing in noisy environments, hearing aids may help.
The best way to determine whether you need hearing aids is to schedule a professional hearing evaluation. A hearing care provider can identify the type and severity of your hearing loss and recommend the most appropriate treatment options.
For adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, OTC hearing aids may provide a more affordable and accessible solution. These devices are available without a prescription and often include adjustable sound settings and smartphone controls.
People with severe hearing loss, sudden hearing changes, tinnitus, ear pain, or complex hearing conditions typically benefit more from prescription hearing aids fitted by a hearing professional. Professionally fitted devices offer greater customization, follow-up care, and advanced sound-processing features.
Cost is another important factor when deciding whether to buy hearing aids. OTC hearing aids may cost a few hundred dollars, while prescription hearing aids can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the level of technology and included services. Some Medicare Advantage and private insurance plans may help cover hearing aid costs, although coverage varies.
If untreated hearing loss is affecting your ability to communicate or participate in daily activities, hearing aids may provide long-term benefits that outweigh the initial investment.
How Hearing Amplifiers Work
Hearing amplifiers, also called personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), make sounds in the surrounding environment louder. These electronic devices are available in many of the same types of hearing aids, including behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-canal (ITC) models. Some hearing amplifiers resemble wireless earbuds or headphones.
Hearing amplifiers cost as little as $50, but higher-quality products often cost several hundred dollars per ear. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate PSAPs as medical devices because they are not intended to treat hearing loss, and you don’t need a prescription to purchase them.
Hearing amplifiers may help people with mild hearing loss but they usually do not separate speech from background noise as effectively as hearing aids. They are also useful for people with normal hearing who just want an occasional sound boost in specific situations. For example, in a crowded restaurant, hearing aids may help focus on conversations at your table while reducing surrounding noise.
Do Hearing Amplifiers Work?
Consumer testing and research studies have evaluated hearing amplifiers in adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Results suggest that some hearing amplifiers can improve hearing in certain situations, although effectiveness varies by product quality and fit. Higher-quality devices may provide benefits for mild to moderate hearing difficulty, but they are generally less effective for severe hearing loss.
Some medical studies, including research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), have compared hearing aids and PSAPs. Researchers found that certain PSAPs helped improve speech understanding in some listening environments. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have also reported that some high-quality PSAPs perform similarly to basic hearing aids in certain situations.
Research continuously suggests that product quality plays a major role in hearing amplifier performance. Some inexpensive models may provide little or no measurable benefit. Poorly designed amplifiers may also over-amplify certain sounds, potentially causing discomfort or additional hearing damage.
Should You Buy Hearing Amplifiers?
Hearing loss varies widely in severity and cause. It’s important to have a hearing test with an audiologist before deciding between hearing amplifiers, OTC hearing aids, or prescription hearing aids.
If testing shows that you don’t need prescription hearing aids, consider hearing amplifiers or OTC hearing aids with sound-adjustment and volume-limiting features.
If you need hearing aids, OTC hearing aids may provide a lower-cost option for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. In 2022, the FDA established regulations allowing OTC hearing aids to be sold directly to consumers without a prescription.
For additional information about hearing aids, see our Best Hearing Aids guide.
Hearing Aid Styles and Costs
You’re probably familiar with hearing aids, which have been used in various forms for more than a century. Today, hearing aids are available in many styles, including discreet in-ear models that are difficult to notice. Traditional prescription hearing aids are medical devices designed to treat diagnosed hearing loss, although adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss may now purchase FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids without a prescription.
Modern hearing aids use advanced technology and can cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per ear. Costs for prescription hearing aids may including hearing exams, fittings, follow-up adjustments, warranties, and ongoing support. Some Medicare Advantage plans may help cover hearing aids, while Original Medicare generally does not. Coverage through private insurance varies widely. The FDA regulates hearing aids for safety and effectiveness.
Get a Hearing Exam
Even if you believe you would benefit from a hearing amplifier, it’s important to visit a hearing care professional to determine whether you have medically treatable hearing loss. In some cases, hearing problems stem from earwax buildup, infections, medication side effects, or other medical conditions that require treatment. In some situations, treatment may be as simple as adjusting medication or removing excess earwax.
Delaying a hearing evaluation may allow hearing problems to worsen over time. While hearing amplifiers may seem like a lower-cost option, skipping a professional evaluation could lead to larger medical or communication challenges later.
Hearing Amplifier Styles and Costs
Hearing amplifiers, also known as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), are available in several styles similar to hearing aids. Common options include behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and earbud-style models. Some amplifiers are designed for occasional use during activities like watching television, birdwatching, or attending lectures.
Compared to hearing aids, hearing amplifiers typically offer fewer customization options and simpler sound-processing technology. Most models focus on making environmental sounds louder rather than separating speech from background noise.
Hearing amplifiers are generally more affordable than hearing aids. Basic models may cost as little as $50 to $100, while higher-quality devices with better sound clarity and rechargeable batteries can cost several hundred dollars per ear.
Unlike hearing aids, hearing amplifiers are not FDA-regulated medical devices because they are not intended to diagnose or treat hearing loss. As a result, they can usually be purchased online, in pharmacies, or through electronics retailers without a prescription or hearing exam.
Some hearing amplifiers include features such as:
- Volume controls
- Rechargeable batteries
- Multiple listening modes
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Noise reduction settings
Although hearing amplifiers cost less than hearing aids, lower-priced models may provide inconsistent sound quality or amplify unwanted background noise. People with diagnosed or more advanced hearing loss typically benefit more from OTC or prescription hearing aids, which offer more personalized sound adjustments and speech processing technology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hearing Aids vs. Hearing Amplifiers
Hearing amplifiers are less effective than hearing aids at improving hearing in people with hearing impairment. While hearing amplifiers only amplify sounds in the environment, hearing aids are designed to enhance speech perception and suppress background noise that interferes with it, tailored to one’s unique hearing condition. Advanced hearing amplifiers can be useful in some cases, but hearing aids remain more effective in general.
Hearing amplifiers could be a worthwhile investment for those who would benefit only from occasional or mild amplification in quiet environments, such as watching television or talking to someone one-on-one. The cost is significantly lower than that of hearing aids and does not require a doctor’s prescription. Unfortunately, hearing amplifiers are not suitable for treating diagnosed hearing impairments and will not necessarily improve understanding of speech in loud environments.
PSAPs (personal sound amplification products) increase the overall volume of environmental noise, regardless of whether they are calibrated to a particular individual’s hearing characteristics. This is achieved through simple amplification via a microphone and is applicable to any sounds in the vicinity, including speech and extraneous noise. The hearing aids, however, are medical devices that require programming tailored to a person’s specific hearing impairment.
Over-the-counter hearing aids could be suitable for you if you are an adult and you perceive yourself to have mild to moderate hearing impairment and seek a less expensive means of correction without the need for a visit to a hearing doctor. The devices would come in handy if you have difficulty hearing in relatively quiet or moderately noisy environments, and they can be easily set up yourself. If you suffer from severe hearing problems or ear infections, however, then prescription hearing aids may suit you better.
Essentially, the main distinctions between hearing aids and hearing amplifiers lie in their purposes, technologies, and regulatory status as medical devices. The primary role of hearing amplifiers is to amplify ambient sounds, but they do not address hearing loss. In contrast, hearing aids are FDA-approved medical devices that enhance hearing by reducing background noise and improving speech comprehension. Hearing aids are available both through hearing specialists and over-the-counter.
Help us improve our cost data! Email your latest hearing aids quote to [email protected]. Rest assured, your personal details will remain completely confidential.