Is an OTC Hearing Aid Effective?
It seems as if the internet is filled with ads regarding over-the-counter hearing aids with some of them being incredibly inexpensive. This leads to the following questions: are they worthwhile and who is a good candidate for one?
The consensus appears to be that OTC hearing aids can be effective for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, and is a cost-effective alternative to prescription hearing aids. However, it is important to take into account they have limitations in terms of loudness and features; and are probably not appropriate for those with severe hearing loss or for complex listening situations.
It is estimated 48 million Americans have some form of hearing loss with more than 90% of these cases falling into the category of mild to moderate hearing loss. Due to the high costs of hearing aids and the fact the majority of cases are mild to moderate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids in 2022 as a way to more affordably serve those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
A recent article in Forbes magazine takes on the topic of OTC hearing aids, listing some of the best and things you should know. For example, they say you should know OTC hearing aids are not the same as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), which are used to amplify sounds in certain environments and are not subject to FDA regulation. Also to see if you would be a good candidate for an OTC hearing aid, Michele Michaels, a hearing health care program manager at the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing in Phoenix, recommends consulting with a hearing health professional or your primary care physician. Your hearing loss could be as simple as a build-up of earwax or from other causes, which could be detected through an ear exam and/or a hearing screening.
Michaels talks about common hearing problems that could be addressed with an OTC hearing aid such as not hearing the first letter of a word. For instance, hearing the word tool or school in the sentence, “Let’s go to the pool.” Other signs of a hearing loss are if you have to ask people to repeat themselves or have trouble understanding when someone whispers to you. You may routinely confuse something like 15 minutes from 50 minutes in a conversation or need to sit closer to hear properly. To get started with better hearing, talk to your healthcare provider.
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