Do you have hearing loss but feel like the cost is holding you back from getting hearing aids? You're not alone: The price is a barrier for many, which is why Congress passed a law in 2017 to authorize over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
To speed the law up, in 2021, President Biden issued an executive order that includes directions to move forward. The goal: low-cost hearing devices you can buy in a drug store, something like the reading glasses you see there. Unfortunately, we don’t know how long it will be before OTC hearing aids are easily available, though.
Am I candidate for an OTC hearing aid?
If you have mild hearing loss and are holding back because of the cost of hearing aids, OTC hearing aids will be low-cost and will give you a taste of the advantages of better hearing.
An OTC hearing aid will help you if you notice hearing issues only now and again—usually, in noisy places, groups or when you can’t see who is talking.
Often your family and friends will notice your hearing loss first. They might complain that they need to repeat themselves, you don’t hear them shouting from the other room, or you turn the TV volume up high.
Hearing loss affects your job performance as well. The first person who pushed me to get a hearing aid was also my first boss, when I was 22. You’d think that with complaints from a boss, I would have gone to an audiologist that week. As it happens this boss was a bully and I chalked it up to his unpleasantness.
I didn’t get a hearing aid for almost another decade.
If that sounds dumb, I’m hardly alone. People resist hearing aids, for reasons no one has completely pinned down, and a decade is about the usual length of time before they get smart.
Who is not a candidate for an OTC hearing aid?
If you have trouble hearing conversations even in quiet settings or miss loud sounds like cars honking when you drive or announcements in public buildings, your hearing loss is more severe than OTC hearing aids are designed to address, notes the National Institutes of Health. Learn more about the degrees of hearing loss.
You need to see a doctor quickly if you have a sudden hearing loss, sudden plunge in your hearing (even if it improves), a big difference between one ear and the other, or tinnitus (ringing) in only one ear. These are possible signs of a medical problem. After it is evaluated and treated, you will know what kind of hearing aid will help you.
What are my chances of being satisfied with an OTC hearing aid?
It's hard to say, but most research indicates that people who've tried out OTC hearing aids need the help of a knowledgeable hearing care provider. A small 2017 trial provides some clues. It tested the outcome when adults aged 55 to 79 years with mild-to-moderate hearing loss chose among three pre-programmed hearing aids on their own for both ears. These were high-end digital mini-behind-the-ear aids, one of several common hearing aid styles.
As Catherine Palmer, AuD, director of Audiology at the University of Pittsburgh, notes, a large majority—90 percent of participants—tried more than one hearing aid. But close to three-quarters picked the wrong aids based on their audio-grams. In addition, although they saw a video and received handouts, 20 percent asked for extra help using the aids.
The volunteers paid for their aids upfront and could get their money back if they chose to return their aids. The results: 55 percent wanted to keep them.
Ongoing hearing care is key
Your chances of satisfaction are higher if you receive a hearing aid fitted by a hearing instrument specialists or audiologist: In this study, a comparison group were fitted by audiologists and 81 percent of the volunteers wanted to keep their aids.
An additional wrinkle: The researchers gave everyone who didn’t want their aids a chance to work with an audiologist and wear the results over the next month. Of 10 people who had chosen among pre-programmed aids on their own who took that option, six did decide to keep their aids after working with an audiologist.
As I write, we don’t know yet what your options will be when buying OTC aids in real life. This study suggests that for a better-than-even chance of satisfaction you will need the option to try different aids and help using your aids. Even so, your chances of getting hearing devices truly appropriate for your hearing loss are small, much lower than they would be if you work with an audiologist.
Your chances of getting OTC hearing aids that are truly appropriate for your hearing loss are small, much lower than they would be if you work with an audiologist.
In addition, a full-service audiologist can advise you about a variety of other devices that stream audio. If you have age-related vision loss, the choices are fairly simple: you can pick glasses and adjust the magnification and lighting on electronic devices. For hearing loss, there are many other options, including hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices.
Even where hearing aids are free, many people don't wear them
Price may not be the real reason you haven’t bought an aid. In Australia, Iceland and Germany public funding makes hearing aids free for many—yet many eligible people with significant hearing loss don’t wear hearing aids.
In my own family, people who paid thousands for hearing aids don’t wear them, ignoring all complaints.
When asked why they don’t wear hearing aids, people tend to say that the aids aren’t comfortable or didn’t give them natural hearing.
As someone who has worn hearing aids for decades, I see those reasons as a sign you didn’t give hearing aids a chance. They aren’t comfortable–if you’re not used to them. There is an adjustment period. They also don’t give you “natural” hearing—but good natural hearing is beyond my reach. My choices are bad hearing or slightly artificial-sounding better hearing.
Things to keep in mind
- Is your spouse or an adult child bugging you to get a hearing aid (or wear the one you have)? Close family members can be hurt and angry that you don’t value conversations with them enough to solve the problem. When you choose bad hearing—while other people are complaining—don’t be surprised if they think you’re selfish. On the other hand, if you demonstrate you care, you might be surprised by their gratitude.
- Do you find your grandkids squeaky and impossible to understand? You’d have more fun in their company if you could chat with them if you treat your high-frequency hearing loss.
- Are you unable to participate in business meetings? Parties? Dinners at a long table?
Those are all strong reasons to take action before your hearing declines further. If cost is truly the issue, watch the news: OTC hearing aids could be in-between step, or a life-changer, on your path to healthy hearing.
What about cheap hearing aids I'm finding online?
If you've browsed online shopping sites, you've likely come across hearing aids that cost little more than a meal at a fancy restaurant. Be warned that these are likely not true hearing aids, but are "hearing amplifiers," also known as PSAPs, and they are not intended for use by people with hearing loss.
Need help now?
Beyond helping you hear better, hearing aids are also linked to health benefits including reduced rates of depression and delayed onset of cognitive decline. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to treat your hearing loss. As many hearing providers say, "use it or lose it."
If you're ready to take action, browse our directory of hearing aid clinics near you to make an appointment.
