Hearing Aids vs Hearing Amplifiers (PSAPs): What’s the Difference?
Understand the difference between regulated hearing aids and personal sound amplifiers, and how to choose safely.
The key difference
Hearing aids are designed to address hearing loss and are fit using hearing test information.
Amplifiers (sometimes called PSAPs) may make everything louder, which can be uncomfortable and may not improve clarity.
Why clarity matters more than volume
Many people with hearing loss struggle most with speech clarity, not just loudness.
A good fitting aims to restore audibility while keeping sound comfortable.
A safe way to decide
If your main complaint is ‘people mumble’ or you struggle in restaurants, a proper hearing test is usually the fastest path to a real answer.
If you choose a consumer device, be cautious with volume and watch for discomfort or ringing after use.
In Canada, hearing aids are regulated as medical devices — you can learn more about medical devices from Health Canada.
Sources
We aim to use reputable Canadian and international health sources. If a link changes, try searching the title on the publisher’s site.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. If you have sudden hearing loss, ear pain, drainage, dizziness, or one-sided symptoms, seek medical assessment.