The design and functionality of headphones have evolved considerably. Today you can use them not only to listen to music but also to talk on the phone, suppress background noise that interferes with hearing, and play computer games. Some models of wireless headphones have the function of sound amplification.
Sound suppression and amplification are particularly interesting. In fact, that's how hearing aids work. A suppresses some sounds and amplifies others. As a result, one hears and understands external sounds. This raises the question. Can modern headphones replace hearing aids?
Today, hundreds of models are available in hearing aid store. They differ in manufacturer, appearance, power, and feature set. In the past, you couldn't buy medical devices without consulting an audiologist. Although some patients confused hearing aids with sound amplifiers and bought them. But they didn't help restore hearing. As a result, people just wasted time and money and still made an appointment for a consultation with an audiologist.
Last year, the FDA approved the sale and use of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. You can buy them without consulting an audiologist in a regular store or online, just like you can buy headphones. Some models may be similar to each other. But can Hearing amplifiers, even with noise reduction, replace hearing aids for a hard-of-hearing person? The answer is obvious - no! And there are several reasons for that!
Headphones are not medical devices
It is not enough to call a device or product a medical device. This status must be officially confirmed by entering it in the state register of medical devices after verification and certification. So the headphones, although they have some of the features of hearing aids, are not registered as medical devices. They are not designed to correct the hearing of hard-of-hearing people.
Headphones are useless for moderate to severe hearing loss
Headphones may do some good for mild hearing loss. But for more severe hearing loss, their ability to amplify sound is insufficient.
Headphones are not safe for your ears
In-ear headphones seal the ear canal. Therefore, the sound coming out of them is not dispersed but transmitted directly to the eardrum. It can damage the eardrum if the volume is excessive. In addition, inserting a headphone into the ear canal can push a wax plug deep into the ear canal, causing it to become blocked. In turn, it'll impair your hearing and make it necessary to increase the volume of the sound. It is an additional noise load on the hearing organs.
Don't experiment with your hearing! Headphones cannot restore your hearing. A hearing aid is the best, clinically proven method that has been tested by hundreds of thousands of users. The best thing you can do for your hearing loss is to contact an audiologist. Your hearing care professional will evaluate and recommend a hearing aid that meets your needs and personality.
