Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids have made headlines recently because of the new FDA ruling on them and their designed usage. Selecting a hearing aid is an important step in your journey to better hearing, so it’s critical you find the best device for you. When considering OTC hearing aids, it’s crucial to understand their capabilities, ideal usage and limitations before deciding if they’re a viable option for your needs.
What are OTC Hearing Aids?
Over-the-counter hearing aids are type of device that don’t require a prescription or hearing test from your audiologist. They are designed to address individuals that have very mild, basic forms of hearing loss. OTC devices are designed to be sold by an online or store retailer, purchased by a consumer and then taken home and fit by the individual, without the help of an audiologist.
What are Prescription Hearing Aids?
Prescription hearing aids are available through a professional like an audiologist and require a professional fitting to be used. They address mild-to-profound hearing loss and offer an array of styles and features that OTC devices are limited on. The most popular styles include in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC), with variations to these types and additional models also available.
Who Uses OTC Devices?
Anyone with self-perceived mild hearing loss that is over the age of 18 can use an OTC device, it doesn’t matter if you are new to hearing aids or if you need an existing one replaced. According to the government, the market for hearing aids needs revising and has introduced OTC devices to offer greater accessibility to the public and help introduce those with very mild forms of hearing loss to the technology.
People with more severe hearing loss are better off with more advanced devices that come with additional services such as fitting and maintenance. The people using OTC devices tend to be those looking for a quick solution to mild hearing loss that has very little hinderance on their everyday activities.
Why are OTC Devices Used?
Hearing loss is severely debilitating; it affects life quality, overall wellbeing, relationships and livelihood simultaneously. When someone can’t hear a conversation, asks repeatedly for clarification or requires special attention, it can cause them to retreat into isolation and affects their mental health. These effects can be felt by individuals with any type of mild-to-severe hearing loss.
OTC devices were introduced to make the market for hearing devices more easily obtainable and to help those with self-perceived mild hearing loss gain easier access to the hardware they need to improve their life quality. Now, individuals with mild hearing loss can buy a device without a prescription and use it right away; or use it to determine whether they need an audiologist.
What Hearing Loss is Required?
OTC devices are available only for adults over the age of 18, as children’s hearing loss needs to always be addressed by a professional because it can have ramifications on their academic and speech progression. As with all hearing aids, OTC devices are designed to take in sound from the environment using a microphone and amplify it for the inner ear.
When you visit an audiologist and get a prescription for a healing aid device, you can access devices that have more technologically-refined features, such as noise reduction, directional microphones, wireless capability, remote controls and much more. Not only do prescription models have more advanced features, but they also come in bundles meaning you benefit from testing, fittings, repairs and maintenance, and follow-up care.
Where to Buy OTC Devices
OTC devices are designed to be convenient and accessible; for this reason, you can expect to find them in most pharmaceutical stores online and offline. If you notice a change in your hearing and want to investigate it, you don’t have to book a visit to an audiologist. Instead, you can visit a pharmacy and buy an OTC device at a lower cost.
While OTC devices are easy to use and come with instructions and can be fitted by individuals, it’s important to note that they don’t provide the level of customization required for more moderate-to-severe hearing loss cases. This is also true if you have developed sudden hearing loss, one-sided hearing loss or tinnitus. If you’re unsure about whether an OTC device works for you, it’s ideal to consult a professional to determine your degree of hearing loss.
Before you invest in any kind of hearing aid consider doing some research and talking to an audiologist. Hearing aid devices are an investment in your health, so it’s important to find the model that meets your specific needs. If you want to learn more about hearing lHearing Aidsoss technology options, consult the team at Professional Hearing Aid Associates by calling (785) 940-4101.
