What To Know About Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids
Despite being passed in 2017, a law that would allow hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter just took effect in mid-October. Local pharmacies will now be able to stock and sell hearing aids for between $199-$999: some have already begun sales online.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) explained the greater reaches and ramifications of this law:
“Hearing loss significantly affects quality of life for tens of millions of adults in the United States and contributes to high health care costs. Untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation, and it has been associated with serious conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, dementia, reduced mobility, and falls. Yet only one in four adults who could benefit from hearing aids has ever used them. Making hearing health care more accessible and affordable is a public health priority, especially as the number of older adults in the U.S. continues to grow.”
“A law established as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 directed the FDA to create a category of OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. As part of this process, in October 2021, the FDA formally proposed a rule to establish the new OTC hearing aids category. Finalized in August 2022, the final rule allows hearing aids within this category to be sold directly to consumers in stores or online without a medical exam or a fitting by an audiologist. Hearing aids for more severe hearing loss or for users younger than age 18 remain prescription devices.”
According to major providers like Sony, over 65 percent of the U.S. market needs better hearing care, which means this law opens up new opportunities for business as well as providing essential care at a much lower cost than the price of prescription hearing aids. About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids, meaning close to 19 million people go without proper care at this time.
Unlike normal hearing aids, no prescription or exam will be required in order to obtain a pair. They are readily available for purchase online, or in your local pharmacy. With the abundance of options, however, comes a potential pitfall: quality inconsistency. Sellers are required to plainly state their return policies on the back of the box, but it can take 3-4 weeks to properly adjust or fix a hearing aid.
Another big difference is that these hearing aids will need to be fit at home, or else look less like traditional hearing aids and more like earbuds. Sony’s model will use an app:
“While each device features an easy-to-navigate app interface with customizable options for the wearer’s specific hearing needs and preferences, the two models coming to market will provide more choice when it comes to the look and capabilities of high-end hearing devices.”
The self-fitting process is totally new, so Consumer Reports journalist Catherine Roberts recommends checking out the support available from the seller of the aid. “Very few people are going to be familiar with it," says Roberts. "So, the more you can know that there's somebody who can help you troubleshoot, I think that's going to be some of the value in this early marketplace."
It’s undeniable the release of over the counter hearing aids will offer a long-needed service at low-cost to Americans, but the new territory surrounding this law can be confusing—and the more information that becomes available, the more we, as journalists, must stay on top of it.
