Over-the-counter hearing aids are a great option for many people experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. They’re also an alternative to prescription hearing aids, which can be costly and require a doctor’s prescription.
OTC hearing aids are subject to FDA regulation as medical devices, so producers must abide by specific guidelines for their safety and effectiveness. When a person buys an OTC hearing aid, they’re choosing to go through the process of purchasing the device themselves.
Here’s everything to know about OTC hearing aids.
Who Can Use OTC Hearing Aids?
OTC hearing aids are intended for adults 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, if someone needs their speech to be loud even in quiet settings or has trouble hearing in noisy settings, their hearing loss is more severe than what is acceptable for OTC hearing aids to function.
The FDA recommends a hearing exam by a licensed medical professional for people who have the following symptoms:
– Ear injury or deformity
– One or both ears are leaking fluid, pus, or blood
– Hearing loss that comes on suddenly or fluctuates
– One ear has better hearing than the other
– One or both ears are ringing or buzzing
– Chronic pain in one or both ears
– Dizziness or vertigo
– A full or plugged feeling in the ear
How Much Do Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids Cost?
A pair of prescription hearing aids cost about $4,600 on average, but OTC hearing aids are less expensive. By selecting OTC brands over prescription models, one could save up to $3,000 on hearing aids. A pair of over-the-counter hearing aids would cost around $1,600.
Hearing aid prices may fall even further now that the FDA has opened the OTC hearing aid market to more manufacturers. Lower hearing aid prices may encourage millions of people to seek help for their hearing loss.
Pros and Cons of OTC Hearing Aids
Although over-the-counter hearing aids can be an excellent solution for hearing loss, they have limitations compared to prescription hearing aids.
Pros:
– When compared to prescription hearing aids, the average cost is lower.
– Some manufacturers provide remote audiologist evaluations and adjustments.
– Many include a smartphone app for adjusting the volume and settings.
Cons:
– Not intended to treat severe hearing loss or hearing loss caused by an injury or underlying medical condition.
– They are self-fitting, which means they can’t be customized to fit one’s ear.
– Generally, they have fewer features than prescription hearing aids.
– Following the purchase, no in-person hearing care is provided.
– Compared to hearing aids that are prescribed, OTC hearing aids typically have shorter warranties.
