Key Takeaways

Eligible Americans can now purchase hearing aids for a fraction of the original cost.

As of October 17, theWhite Houseannounced hearing aids are stocked on store shelves around the country, including Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Best Buy, and Hy-Vee.

The long-awaited rule comes after COVID-related delays and a period of public comment. It officially permits the purchase of hearing aids in retail stores and online without a prescription or medical exam.

Why Make Hearing Aids OTC?

According to the National Institute of Deafness and Communications Disorders, about 28.8 million adults in the United States could benefit from using hearing aids, but fewer than 1 in 3 (or 30%) have ever used them.

Even fewer adults between the ages of 20 to 69 who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them (approximately 16%).

“Hearing loss is a critical public health issue that affects the ability of millions of Americans to effectively communicate in their daily social interactions,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, MD, in a statement. “Establishing this new regulatory category will allow people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to have convenient access to an array of safe, effective and affordable hearing aids from their neighborhood store or online.”

The White House fact sheet also said that “hearing aids are so expensive that only 14% of the approximately 48 million Americans with hearing loss use them.”

How to Get Financial Aid for Hearing Aids

Who Can Get OTC Hearing Aids?

The OTC category for hearing aids is intended for adults age 18 and older who have mild to moderate hearing loss. This includes self-perceived hearing loss; a diagnosis is not necessary.

Hearing aids for severe hearing loss and for users younger than age 18 will still require an evaluation and prescription.

Types of Hearing LossThe FDA defines types of hearing loss as:Mild.A person withmild hearing lossmay hear some speech sounds but soft sounds are hard to hear.Moderate.A person with moderate hearing loss may hear almost no speech when another person is talking at a normal level.Severe.A person with severe hearing loss will hear no speech when a person is talking at a normal level and only some loud sounds.Profound.A person with a profound hearing loss will not hear any speech and only very loud sounds.

Types of Hearing Loss

The FDA defines types of hearing loss as:Mild.A person withmild hearing lossmay hear some speech sounds but soft sounds are hard to hear.Moderate.A person with moderate hearing loss may hear almost no speech when another person is talking at a normal level.Severe.A person with severe hearing loss will hear no speech when a person is talking at a normal level and only some loud sounds.Profound.A person with a profound hearing loss will not hear any speech and only very loud sounds.

The FDA defines types of hearing loss as:

What Is Low-Frequency Hearing Loss?

Will OTC Hearing Aids Be Safe?

To ensure patient safety, the FDA’s rule places a maximum volume limit for OTC hearing aids to prevent injuries from the overamplification of sound. All OTC devices will require user-adjustable volume control.

The rule also includes certain device performance and design requirements, including those that apply to how quickly an OTC hearing aid can process, amplify, and relay sound. It would also limit how deeply in the ear the hearing aid can fit to help avoid ear injury.

William Shapiro, AUD,an audiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, told Verywell that he thinks OTC hearing aids “are a great idea if implemented appropriately and thoughtfully.”

William Shapiro, AUDStigma and cosmetic concerns are also reasons people don’t use hearing aids, not just cost.

William Shapiro, AUD

Stigma and cosmetic concerns are also reasons people don’t use hearing aids, not just cost.

While Shapiro said that OTC devices will allow many patients to access the devices, “stigma and cosmetic concerns are also reasons people don’t use hearing aids, not just cost."

“What may happen is that if a patient wears an OTC device and finds some benefit, they may see it as a starter hearing aid and then move to a more sophisticated one, if needed," said Shapiro.

How to Tell If You Have High-Frequency Hearing Loss

Concerns About OTC Hearing Aids

Eric Mann, MD, PhD, the chief medical officer in the FDA office responsible for hearing aids, said in the agency’s statementlast fallthat it’s important that people know that “hearing loss could be a sign of an easily treatable problem like built-upearwaxor a more serious problem like a benign tumor on the hearing nerve.”

Therefore, Mann advised that people “see a doctor when things don’t feel right, when your hearing loss is progressing, or if you are having associated symptoms like dizziness, ear pain, or drainage from the ear canal.”

How Hearing Loss Affects Speech

Other OTC Hearing Devices

There are some products on the market that seem like OTC hearing aids but are not. One category is Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs.) These devices are intended to amplify sound during noisy situations, such as hunting, for people with normal hearing.

In the FDA’s statement, Mann said that because “PSAPs are regulated as consumer electronics and not medical devices, they may be more variable in terms of product quality compared to hearing aids” and added that “the FDA does not regulate such PSAPs for safety and effectiveness” as they do for hearing aids.

Several companies, such as Bose (which makes headphones) currently sell what they call direct-to-consumer hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss. Some people may want to try these options and see if they are helpful.

Selena Briggs, MD, vice-chair of the department of otolaryngology at Medstar Health Washington Hospital Center in Washington DC, told Verywell that one advantage to OTC hearings aids is that because they are less expensive and will be more widely available, people with hearing difficulty might be more willing to try them.

“Right now, people are far more likely to get their vision corrected with glasses than to improve their hearing with hearing aids,” Briggs said. “I’d like to see no concern to wear either.”

What This Means For YouThe FDA has instituted a new rule that allows people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to get hearing aids over-the-counter (OTC) at pharmacies and retail stores. However, if you are having trouble hearing, it’s still important to talk to your doctor. Somecauses of hearing lossare easily treatable, while others might need more treatment than OTC hearing aids.

What This Means For You

The FDA has instituted a new rule that allows people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to get hearing aids over-the-counter (OTC) at pharmacies and retail stores. However, if you are having trouble hearing, it’s still important to talk to your doctor. Somecauses of hearing lossare easily treatable, while others might need more treatment than OTC hearing aids.

2 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.National Insitute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Quick Statistics About Hearing.John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.The Hearing Aid Revolution: Cheaper and Easier to Get.

2 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.National Insitute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Quick Statistics About Hearing.John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.The Hearing Aid Revolution: Cheaper and Easier to Get.

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.

National Insitute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Quick Statistics About Hearing.John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.The Hearing Aid Revolution: Cheaper and Easier to Get.

National Insitute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Quick Statistics About Hearing.

John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.The Hearing Aid Revolution: Cheaper and Easier to Get.

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