Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: What Everyone Should Know

By: Ayasakanta Rout, Ph.D. Professor of Audiology and Department Head Director, Hearing Aid Research Laboratory James Madison University

Nearly one in every seven American adults report some degree of hearin difficulty. earin loss can result from many different causes- some of which are treatable by a medical doctor while other types affecting the inner ear and the hearing nerves are generally not reversible. Hearing aids have been the primary treatment approach for hearing loss resulting from the damage to the inner ear and its nerves. However, affordability and accessibility to hearing aids has been a problem for many people due to high cost and the lack of adequate insurance coverage. The United States Congress passed a bipartisan bill in 2017 to create a new category of hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter and it was signed into law the same year. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final uidelines describin the nature and scope of these new category of hearing aids in 2022. As soon as the FDA guidelines were published, several companies introduced products under the new category. Here is a list of eight important things everyone should know about over-the-counter hearing aids.

1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids are for adults only (18 years and older).

2. One can purchase OTC hearing aids from big box stores, Pharmacies, and over the Internet.

3. OTC hearing aids are designed for mild to moderate hearing loss (not for severe hearing loss).

4. One does not need a hearing evaluation or prescription to purchase OTC hearing aids.

5. Very Important: Do not buy OTC hearing aids if you have ear infection, ear pain, dizziness with hearing loss, sudden change in hearing ability, excessive ear wax, hearing loss or ringing only in one ear.

6. The price of these hearing aids will generally range from a couple of hundred to as much as a thousand dollars.

7. Is there a way to know which OTC hearing aids are good? Researchers have started to evaluate and publish data on how well these hearing aids perform. For consumers, an independent private company has launched a website where they test OTC hearing aids and share the results (https://www.hearadvisor.com/)

8. OTC hearing aids will be available in different shapes and sizes, many of which will not at all look like a traditional hearing aid.

Depending on who you ask, expert opinions about OTC hearing aids can range from excitement to cause for concern. The reality is, like any new forms of technology there are more questions than answers at the early stages. It is important to point out that hearing aid users et most benefit when they are supported by a professional who can guide them through the process of adjusting to hearing sounds that they have not heard in a long time. While OTC hearing aids are going to be cheaper than professionally fitted hearing aids, they won’t come with the personalized professional support of a hearing healthcare professional such as an audiologist. As more OTC hearing aids become available in the market, hearing aid clinics may provide services to test the de ices fine tune and teach about care and maintenance of these products. It is my personal belief that OTC hearing aids can serve as a step-in for some people who are not ready to wear prescription hearing aids.