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Diseases & Conditions
Over-the-counter hearing aids are finally available
- By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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.
Image: © peakSTOCK/Getty Images
About the Author

Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Coping with Hearing Loss: A guide to prevention and treatment
If you think you might need a hearing checkup, you probably do. This Special Health Report, Coping with Hearing Loss: A guide to prevention and treatment, contains in-depth information on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss. You'll learn how to prevent hearing loss and preserve the hearing you have now. You'll also learn about the latest advances in hearing aid technology and find out which kind of hearing device may be best for you.
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