The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the way for the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, making it possible for consumers to purchase these instruments without medical exams or fittings as soon as this fall. It will likely mean cost savings, but what should those with hearing issues know before buying?
Dr. Cindy Hogan, chair of the Division of Audiology and director of the Mayo Clinic Hearing Aid Program, says this move should help improve access.
She says it also will offer people options that are less expensive since there isn’t a lot of insurance coverage for hearing aids for adults.
However, Dr. Hogan says there are also some limitations people should be aware of. The FDA decision on over-the-counter hearing aids is for adults who have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Dr. Hogan says that people are not always an accurate judge of their own hearing loss, which could mean that people purchasing over-the-counter devices could better manage their hearing loss another way.
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