Over-the-counter hearing aids are finally available

News briefs

If you have difficulty hearing and you’ve been putting off doing anything about it, this is a good time to take action. In August 2022, the FDA finally approved a new category of safe, regulated hearing aids sold over the counter. You can get them without a prescription for thousands of dollars less than traditional prescription hearing aids (which can cost $5,000 or more per pair). The move is meant to make hearing aids more widely available to people who otherwise couldn’t afford them or who can’t get to a doctor or an audiologist for a hearing evaluation and fittings. Instead, you can simply order over-the-counter hearing aids online or buy them at a store or pharmacy. They are "self-fitting," which means you’ll adjust them yourself. But note: the devices are meant only for people with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss who need to amplify the volume of sounds around them. If you’re not sure how serious your hearing loss is, it’s a good idea to get an evaluation from an audiologist. And since getting the right fit and effectiveness takes trial and error, you might also want to consult an audiologist for advice on the right over-the-counter hearing aids for you.

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