Traditional hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars, a price that is sometimes hard to justify if you havemildto moderate hearing loss.For these individuals, a disposable hearing aid may be an attractive, cost-saving option.
BSIP / UIG / Getty Images
OTC Hearing AidsIn October 2022, a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation made hearing aids available over-the-counter for adults ages 18 years and older with mild or moderate hearing loss.
OTC Hearing Aids
In October 2022, a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation made hearing aids available over-the-counter for adults ages 18 years and older with mild or moderate hearing loss.
Early Attempts Fail to Generate Consumer Support
Disposable hearing aid technology is still in its infancy and not without its challenges. One of the early entrants into the marketplace was the Songbird disposable hearing aid which boasted an average lifespan of around 400 hours (roughly 16 days). With the Songbird, you no longer needed to worry about batteries. You would simply order a new one when the old one failed and pop it into your ear without any fuss or bother.
Launched in 2001, the Songbird was initially met with great fanfare but quickly began to lose steam with reports of less-than-impressive performance.
In the end, the Songbird was no more than a basic analog amplifier, and even a per-unit price tag of $39 was not enough to keep users on board. In 2012, the management at Songbird officially shuttered the business and decided to focus on lower-cost, traditional hearing aids.
Lyric Hearing Aid Review
Among the advantages and disadvantages of the Lyric:
Arguably, the main disadvantage is the price. While the Lyric doesn’t require you to put down a large amount of money upfront, the cost of an annual subscription can run anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 depending on which certified provider you use.This is more or less in line with the cost of a top-line device for one ear, only you would have to pay the Lyric fee year after year.
Deciding Whether Disposable Aids Are Worth It
If you have minimal to moderate hearing loss and simply need an amplification unit to boost your hearing, there are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) versions available at far less cost. There are even online companies today likeAudicusthat offer a $699 in-the-ear model which you can finance and try risk-free for 45 days.
Individual perceptions of value, comfort, and performance largely accounted for these differences. Moreover, individuals with moderate hearing loss were more likely to approve of OTC devices than those with severe hearing loss.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Humes LE, Rogers SE, Quigley TM, Main AK, Kinney DL, Herring C.The effects of service-delivery model and purchase price on hearing-aid outcomes in older adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Am J Audiol. 2017;26(1):53-79. doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111Food and Drug Administration.OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know.Hearing Health and Technology Matters.Songbird is silenced again; manufacturer enters the hearing arena.Accessdata.fda.gov.510 (K) Summary Lyric.Phonak.Invisible hearing aids.Phonak.Lyric cost & pricing information.Additional ReadingHumes, L.; Rogers, S.; Quigley, T. et al. The Effects of Service-Delivery Model and Purchase Price on Hearing-Aid Outcomes in Older Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.American Journal of Audiology. 2017; 26:53-79. doi:10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Humes LE, Rogers SE, Quigley TM, Main AK, Kinney DL, Herring C.The effects of service-delivery model and purchase price on hearing-aid outcomes in older adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Am J Audiol. 2017;26(1):53-79. doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111Food and Drug Administration.OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know.Hearing Health and Technology Matters.Songbird is silenced again; manufacturer enters the hearing arena.Accessdata.fda.gov.510 (K) Summary Lyric.Phonak.Invisible hearing aids.Phonak.Lyric cost & pricing information.Additional ReadingHumes, L.; Rogers, S.; Quigley, T. et al. The Effects of Service-Delivery Model and Purchase Price on Hearing-Aid Outcomes in Older Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.American Journal of Audiology. 2017; 26:53-79. doi:10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Humes LE, Rogers SE, Quigley TM, Main AK, Kinney DL, Herring C.The effects of service-delivery model and purchase price on hearing-aid outcomes in older adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Am J Audiol. 2017;26(1):53-79. doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111Food and Drug Administration.OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know.Hearing Health and Technology Matters.Songbird is silenced again; manufacturer enters the hearing arena.Accessdata.fda.gov.510 (K) Summary Lyric.Phonak.Invisible hearing aids.Phonak.Lyric cost & pricing information.
Humes LE, Rogers SE, Quigley TM, Main AK, Kinney DL, Herring C.The effects of service-delivery model and purchase price on hearing-aid outcomes in older adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Am J Audiol. 2017;26(1):53-79. doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111
Food and Drug Administration.OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know.
Hearing Health and Technology Matters.Songbird is silenced again; manufacturer enters the hearing arena.
Accessdata.fda.gov.510 (K) Summary Lyric.
Phonak.Invisible hearing aids.
Phonak.Lyric cost & pricing information.
Humes, L.; Rogers, S.; Quigley, T. et al. The Effects of Service-Delivery Model and Purchase Price on Hearing-Aid Outcomes in Older Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.American Journal of Audiology. 2017; 26:53-79. doi:10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
