50+ Lifestyles

Ask the Audiologist

By Margaret Christiansen, Au.D.
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

What are Over the Counter Hearing Aids?

Recent legislation was passed that will allow a new category of hearing aids, Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aids, to be sold. The FDA is required to establish this category of hearing aids within 3 years. Because the OTC hearing aid category has yet to be established, there are still some unknowns about what these aids will offer. They are designed to be for individuals with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Similar to over the counter reading glasses, these hearing aids will not require a hearing test and will not have adjustments specific to a person’s individual loss or needs.

The idea of OTC hearing aids emerged as a way to make hearing aids more accessible and affordable. While the addition of options and price ranges will be helpful to some, OTC hearing aids will not be the same quality and technology currently offered by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. OTC hearing aids will likely offer very limited technology intended to amplify high pitch sounds. Because they are not custom fit to your individual loss, they will have generic settings and not be custom designed for your loss.

Hearing aids sold by an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser have sophisticated technology designed to give the user a high-quality listening experience. Hearing aid settings are tailored for your individual loss and are able to be re-programmed based on specific preferences and future changes in your hearing ability. These hearing aids also offer advanced technology which allows for things such as help filtering out background noise, enhancements to speech, automatic volume adjustments and more.

Hearing aids are available in a wide range of technology and service levels which help make sure there is a hearing aid that fits everyone’s budget. The service an audiologist provides with a hearing aid ensures you have the best listening experience possible by verifying your hearing aids are set the best way for your loss and individual needs. Service on a hearing aid extends past the product by helping manage the day to day problems experienced by hearing aid users through troubleshooting, cleanings, and repairs.

If you have questions about hearing aids or what options are right for you, consult with your audiologist. They can help identify the product that would best meet your needs.