A little more than a year ago, over-the-counter hearing aids officially arrived in the U.S. consumer market, creating concern among hearing professionals and confusion among consumers. The original legislation that made OTCs a reality had good intentions—to make hearing aids more accessible and affordable, but the jury is still out on where things stand in that regard. In this blog, … Read More
Paying for Hearing Aids
With over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids now available to consumers, plus prescription hearing aids, there are more options than ever before for hearing devices. Originally, cost was one of the driving factors in the FDA’s decision to approve OTC hearing aid sales. And while there are some very affordable OTC options, OTC hearing aids aren’t appropriate for everyone. Some individuals need … Read More
What’s the Most Affordable Hearing Aid?
With over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids now approved by the Food and Drug Administration, hearing aid options have increased significantly and run the gamut from entry-level OTCs to more advanced prescription hearing aids, but how do you know what the most affordable option is for you? Whether you’re looking for OTC or prescription hearing aids, consider your budget, hearing needs, and … Read More
Over-the-Counter or Prescription Hearing Aids?
With the recent entry into the marketplace of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, many consumers are asking themselves, “Which do I need? Over-the-counter or prescription hearing aids?” Probably the best place to start in answering that question is with a comprehensive hearing evaluation performed by a doctoral-level audiologist. A hearing evaluation isn’t required in order to purchase OTC hearing aids, but … Read More
The Latest on Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a law established as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 directed the FDA to create a new category of hearing aids for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss called over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. As part of this process, in October 2021, the FDA formally proposed a … Read More
