How do I know if I should try a Personal Sound Amplifier or a Hearing Aid

If you’re unsure of which of these two products are right for you we hope we can give you some helpful points to consider.

Personal Sound Amplifiers are for those individuals who have normal hearing but find themselves in certain listening situations needing help to hear what is going on.  Perhaps you’re at a lecture and are finding it difficult to hear the speaker or maybe you need a little extra volume for TV listening. This is what a PSAP is for.

On the other hand if you’re always having trouble hearing and you think you may no longer have normal hearing, then you should look into getting a hearing aid by seeing a hearing healthcare professional (Audiologist, Licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser, or Doctor). If you think you have a medical issue that is causing your hearing loss then you should not only consider a hearing aid but see an audiologist or doctor. Hearing aids are medical devices used to help you hear better and can only be fit by a hearing health care professional. You must make an appointment and have your hearing evaluated so that the right hearing aid will be fit for your specific type of hearing loss.

PSAPs are readily available on line. Since they are designed for someone with normal hearing they do not require a hearing evaluation by a hearing healthcare professional. No appointment is needed. Just purchase one and you’re ready to hear better in those special situations.

The difference between PSAPs and hearing aids has been compared to the differences between reading glasses you can buy anywhere versus prescription eyeglasses. Reading glasses are for people who have normal vision, but maybe in a dark restaurant need some help in order to read the menu. Personal Sound Amplifiers are for these kinds of situations in the hearing world.

Like prescription eyeglasses are for people with more significant vision issues issues where you should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist, Hearing Aids are for people who have hearing loss or medical issues related to their hearing and should see an audiologist or ENT.

Deciding Which Kind of Personal Sound Amplifier (PSAP) is Best

Personal Sound Amplifiers (also known as PSAP’s) are designed either to fit inside the ear or behind the ear.  To find out which one would work best for you…read along!!

There are a few factors that would help you determine whether you would want a Personal Sound Amplifier (PSAP) that fits either in your ear or behind your ear is the best and right choice for you.

IN-THE-EAR PERSONAL SOUND AMPLIFIER (I.T.E. PSAP)

First…many consumers assume that a PSAP that fits in the ear would automatically be the best choice, but that is not entirely true.  For example, some in the ear (I.T.E) models can be more difficult to place in your ear and stay securely in the bowl of your ear so they won’t fall out.  This can be slightly problematic since everyone’s ears are built differently.  These PSAP units are designed quite small and very thin so it can be difficult to know how securely the PSAP is sitting in your ear.

Second…It is important that the opening of the PSAP where the sound comes out is aimed into your ear canal. If it doesn’t sit properly at the opening of your ear canal you will hear very little or possibly nothing at all.

BEHIND-THE-EAR PERSONAL SOUND AMPLIFIER (B.T.E. PSAP)

Behind the Ear PSAPs offer some excellent benefits as well.  Although these PSAP’s are slightly larger, they become easier to handle and sit behind the ear.  The body of the unit rests comfortably behind your ear with the very slim ear wire, which carries the sound, hooking around the front of your Pinna and then the tip of the wire sits right outside the opening of the ear canal.  Since it sits behind your ear,  it is easier to make sure that it is sitting securely on your ear.  For added security, you will know that the wire hooks around the ear.  The tip of the ear wire can be easily checked for sound,  by making sure it is aimed directly into your ear canal.  This feature makes it less likely to disrupt or displace the PSAP itself.

Either way, consumers will be very happy with their Personal Sound Amplifier purchase.  Some consumers will find the I.T.E. PSAP to be more comfortable to wear while other consumers will prefer the B.T.E. PSAP because of its ease of handling and its featherweight also making it very comfortable to wear.  We hope this has given you some help in figuring out which style of PSAP is right for you.   For further information or any other questions regarding PSAP’s please visit our website at www.hear4youtoday.com .