Should I be be wary of buying hearing amplifiers online?

We often come across these gizmos in TV commercials– a smiling husband enjoying TV in bed while his wife sleeps in total peace.

Worth noting: these devices (that sell for as little as $14.95) are actually dangerous to your health.

Yes, you’ll do more damage to your ears using these cheap electronic ear amps. The reason is simple. These over-the-counter devices are not programmed for your hearing loss. In fact you control the volume on these toys. That means you can turn up the volume to levels loud enough to hear clearly – and to volumes that potentially could further damage an already-damaged natural hearing mechanism. It’s inevitable.

Skip these low-ball devices and visit a hearing professional to get a customized pair of hearing aids. The operable word is customized. The hearing professional customizes your hearing aids to suit your specific needs and type of hearing loss.

Need a boost in the high frequencies? Your hearing professional will set your hearing aids to boost the high end while leaving the rest of the sound frequency spectrum on “normal.”

Visit a registered hearing professional to find out what suitable options are available to you.