The days of spending thousands of dollars to start hearing better are over. People with mild to moderate hearing loss can easily buy hearing aids online starting from $98, without having to go through medical appointments or hearing tests.
But not all brands that sell hearing aids online are created equal. In reality, a number of them sell simple personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs) under the guise of hearing aids. These devices merely amplify everything around you, instead of helping you distinguish voices.
We are constantly asked: are CLARIA hearing aids just amplifiers? Or are they true hearing aids? We've decided to settle it once and for all: they are authentic, FDA-registered hearing aids!
And not just any. The best OTC hearing aids with the best value for money, bar none. You benefit from exceptional value for your money, a wide range of solutions tailored to your hearing needs, and, of course, impeccable customer service from A to Z.
We invite you to learn more about our affordable hearing aids on our website, or to contact us for personalized support in choosing your device. In the meantime, we provide more details below on the differences between hearing aids and amplifiers, to set the record straight.
What is the difference between a hearing aid and an amplifier?
First of all, we need to lay down some basics about hearing aids and amplifiers so that you can better understand which category CLARIA falls into.
How Hearing Aids Work
Hearing aids don't just turn up the volume. They are designed to make sound clearer. This distinction makes all the difference when you struggle to follow a conversation in a noisy environment. Otherwise, you're just amplifying a confusing din and making the situation worse.
A true hearing aid picks up sound through a microphone, processes it via a digital chip, and then delivers a personalized signal to your ear.
It's in this digital chip that everything happens. It is programmed to boost the frequencies you perceive poorly, typically high-pitched consonants like "s" or "f," while reducing background noise that makes speech difficult to follow.
Hearing aids also integrate features like feedback cancellation, directional microphones, and environmental adaptation, so you can hear just as well in a busy restaurant as on the phone in your car.
In other words, they help your brain make sense of the sounds you're missing, rather than simply turning up the volume of everything around you.
How Amplifiers Work
Amplifiers, on the other hand, treat all sounds the same way. Whether it's your grandson's voice or your refrigerator's hum, these devices amplify everything. No sound processing, no background noise filtering, no adaptation to your hearing profile.
Technically, they are called personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs). They are not intended to treat hearing loss, but for occasional use by people with normal hearing who want to hear better in specific situations, such as birdwatching.
The essential difference? The amplifier increases the sound. The hearing aid shapes it. So, which category does CLARIA fall into? Are CLARIA hearing aids just amplifiers?
Are CLARIA hearing aids just amplifiers?
NO: they are real hearing aids, registered with the FDA. This means they are designed to support mild to moderate hearing loss and meet the same safety and efficacy standards as any legal OTC hearing device in the US.
They don't amplify everything uniformly: they prioritize clarity, reduce background noise, and focus on speech frequencies, which are the first to be lost.
So, are CLARIA hearing aids real hearing aids?
Yes! We are even convinced that they are the best affordable hearing aids on the market. Because we are sincerely passionate about helping as many people as possible hear better, by breaking down the barriers that have too long made traditional prescription hearing aids inaccessible.
CLARIA was born after seeing our own grandparents struggle with expensive and complicated hearing solutions. So, we decided to change things. We created FDA-registered hearing aids that really work, without customization, without appointments, and without a $4,000 bill.
We are proud to have helped over a million people hear better since 2019, while saving them the financial stress and hassle of the traditional route. Here's what you get with CLARIA:
An elegant, discreet, and comfortable in-ear design
Clear sound processing, optimized for speech
Rechargeable batteries that last all day
A 45-day warranty and lifetime customer support
Certified audiologists are also part of our team and guide us in the right direction. So you can confidently invest in a solution that will make a real difference in your daily life.
But don't just take our word for it. Check out these comparisons with other major OTC hearing aid manufacturers to see how CLARIA stands up:
CLARIA vs. MD hearing aids
CLARIA vs. Jabra hearing aids
Nano vs. CLARIA hearing aids
In the meantime, let's review our complete range of carefully designed hearing aids below, to help you choose the device that suits your preferences and hearing needs.
How to choose your CLARIA hearing aid
If CLARIA is the #1 choice online, it's partly because we don't consider hearing loss (or the devices meant to address it) as a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we offer a comprehensive range of products for every profile.
The CLARIA Atom is an excellent starting point if you're looking for a simple, no-fuss option that's ready to use right out of the box. It's a small in-the-ear (ITE) device, comfortable for most ears, that requires no app pairing.
You'll find that it works very well for one-on-one conversations, watching TV, and in all everyday situations where background noise isn't overwhelming. It is, without a doubt, the best hearing aid under $100.
But if you want a little more clarity and battery life, the Atom Pro is among the best hearing aids under $200. It has a longer-lasting rechargeable battery and slightly improved sound processing. It still works without an app, which is ideal for those who prefer to adjust the volume manually with a small dial rather than navigating smartphone settings.
That said, our in-the-ear models are not always the best choice, even if you're looking for something very discreet. The behind-the-ear (BTE) models we've developed may be better suited for you if you have very narrow ear canals or simply want more amplification and stability.
The Ion and Ion Pro are particularly useful for those with dexterity challenges, as they feature larger buttons and easier placement. The Ion Pro also offers customizable hearing profiles via a dedicated app, which is very practical if you are in varied sound environments or want a more tailored experience.
Not sure which one to choose? That's where we come in. Our US-based customer service team is trained to explain the differences, and our 45-day money-back guarantee allows you to try the model that suits you best risk-free.
So, discover our comparison between in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids, or speak with our experts today for personalized support. It's time to start hearing better, your way!
In conclusion
In summary, are CLARIA hearing aids just amplifiers? Absolutely not. They have nothing to do with "Oracle hearing aids" that simply amplify everything around you.
Unfortunately, many people only realize the extent of the difference between hearing aids and PSAPs after buying an amplifier, only to end up disappointed and frustrated. Luckily, you won't have that problem when you buy from us.
CLARIA devices are real FDA-registered hearing aids, designed for real improvement and not just to amplify noise. They are designed to be affordable, effective, and easy to use, because you should never have to compromise when it comes to your hearing.
Let us help you find the device that will truly change your daily life.
