Patient Resources

With Best Buy and many pharmacy stores now stocking over-the-counter hearing aids following President Biden’s executive order, there has been a lot of confusion about what these devices are and how they differ from traditional prescription hearing aids.

In this article, you’ll learn the key differences between over-the-counter and prescription devices, the impact that this new category of devices will have on hearing loss treatment, and understand which options are right for you.

What Are Over-The-Hearing Aids?

OTC, or Over The Counter, is the term given to a product that can be purchased without a prescription. It is a product that is purchased directly by the consumer, set up, and used by the consumer with no professional assistance required.

Although the term “over the counter” is a new concept, in reality this type of self-fitting hearing devices has been around for a long time under the name PSAP (Personal Sound Amplifiers), as the term “hearing aid” was protected by the FDA.

Priced at around $999 at CVS, they are self-fitting, require you to set them up via a cell phone app, and allow you to select a setting to offer overall amplification.

Only today, brands such as Sony, Bose, and Jabra are entering the market utilizing the new FDA guidelines to launch consumer-focused amplification devices under this new category.

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What Are the Differences Between Prescription and Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids?

A great comparison is prescription eyeglasses and over-the-counter “readers.”

“Readers” are a solution that help people that require a helping hand in certain situations but are not a full-time or long-term solution. Over-the-counter hearing aids will share a lot of similarities.

To help understand the differences, here is a comparison chart:

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The Biggest Risks of OTC

As a trusted team of hearing doctors and medical experts, we naturally have some concerns with over-the-counter hearing aids. Our biggest concern is that the guidelines do not require an adult to have a hearing test prior to purchasing these devices.

This results in two risks:

#1 – Firstly, a hearing loss is not the only reason you may be struggling to hear. When conducting a hearing evaluation, we analyze your overall hearing health and often discover alternative reasons why you may be struggling to hear.

These can be as simple as a buildup of earwax that can be easily addressed, to a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention. Without having a hearing evaluation, you could be addressing something that is quickly fixable or worsening a medical concern.

#2 – Secondly, we’re concerned about the recommendation that over-the-counter devices are for people with a perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. As hearing loss often happens slowly and gradually, it’s almost impossible to know what level of hearing loss you have until you have a hearing evaluation.

We often see people that walk through our door that believe they have a mild hearing loss, only to discover that they have a severe hearing loss that requires immediate attention.

Over-the-counter hearing aids could be applying a band-aid to a more serious challenge by not requiring a hearing evaluation.

Our Advice to You

You wouldn’t prescribe yourself medication without first visiting a doctor, and the same is true when it comes to addressing a hearing loss. It’s why it’s critically important to first schedule a hearing evaluation.

Your hearing challenges could be due to something as simple as a buildup of earwax, or you may have a more complex medical concern that needs a referral – but adding a band-aid to a risky solution for something as sensitive as your hearing health.