Why Are Hearing Aids Being Offered Over The Counter?

Hearing aids are now sold over the counter in many pharmacies and other stores. As of this summer, hearing aids could be marketed without a prescription from a doctor, thanks to a recent regulation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

With this change, many Americans who experience hearing loss will no longer be hindered by factors like high fees and mandatory medical exams. Nowadays, you can buy a hearing aid at any pharmacy, drug store or even online.

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices, a typical form of hearing aid that amplifies sound, fall under the rule’s purview for those 18 and older with self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Yet just because you can buy OTC hearing aids, does that mean you should? Let’s look more closely into all the different aspects of this idea to see if it is worthwhile.

Over The Counter Hearing Aids Could Help Some People

Approximately 30-million Americans have bilateral hearing loss, and yet, many people with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids do not use them. Among people aged 70 and up who experience hearing loss, just one-third have ever worn a hearing aid. About 16% of adults aged 20-69 who might reduce their hearing loss through hearing aids actually use them.

People who have hearing loss are more likely to withdraw socially, communicate less frequently with loved ones and struggle in crowded places like supermarkets. This may change if a person buys a hearing aid over the counter.

Numerous obstacles to wearing hearing aids have been identified. Stigma, a failure to recognize the severity of hearing loss and a lack of enthusiasm for the potential advantages are all factors. As a result, people with hearing loss may find it easier to get help and be more motivated to do so if OTCs are more widely available. But there are still good reasons to visit an audiologist. In fact, for most people, this should still be the first port of call.

How To Choose an OTC Hearing Aid

If you feel that you want to try an OTC hearing aid, it’s good to know what to look for and how to make the right choice – bear in mind that you won’t have an expert audiologist guiding you.

Over-the-counter hearing aids are only recommended for self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, such as having difficulty following conversations or having to turn up the volume on the television. This means you need to know what level of hearing loss you actually have.

Once you’ve determined that you have mild to moderate hearing loss and are eligible for an OTC hearing aid, the first thing you should consider is how often and where you’ll be using your aid. Just for business meetings? What about in restaurants and other social gatherings? Are you planning on wearing them from the moment you get up till the moment you go to sleep?

This will give you an idea of the device’s potential for meeting your needs in terms of technology and comfort, as well as the amount of service and personalization that would make the investment worthwhile.

You should also think about how you want the device to look and how it will feel in your ears. There are a number of different shapes that hearing aids can take, including those worn behind the ear, in the ear canal and at variable depths in either place. It’s a good idea to work all this out in advance to help you make the right choice when it comes down to it.

Are OTC Hearing Aids Right for Everyone?

Adults with self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss benefit most from over-the-counter hearing aids. An OTC hearing aid may be useful for someone who hears adequately in quiet places but has difficulties in noisy environments.

Audiologists worry that some people with substantial hearing loss or treatable health issues, including impacted earwax or asymmetric hearing loss, may not get the care they need because the OTC hearing aids do not require a medical evaluation.

See an audiologist first if you have sudden or complete loss of hearing in one ear, tinnitus in one or both ears, a history of ototoxic drugs, ear pain or recurrent dizziness. An audiologist can examine a patient’s hearing loss and provide counseling to help the patient get the most out of their hearing aids, regardless of the severity of their condition.

Speak to Brentwood Hearing Center at (615) 866-0431 for expert advice from a qualified audiologist if you’re considering your need for hearing aids or have any other questions about hearing loss and how to deal with it.