Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids Now Available in The US: Here's What You Need To Know

Hearing aids are now sold over the counter in the United States. The White House reports that as of this coming Monday, individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to purchase hearing aids over the counter or online without a prescription, medical exam, or audiologist fitting, and for thousands of dollars more affordable than before.

According to the White House, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) anticipates that the new regulation may reduce typical expenses for hearing aids by as much as $3,000. A pair of hearing aids typically cost over $3,000, so consumers may save over $1,400, as reported by ABC News.

Possible Game-Changer

Walgreens sells $799 hearing aids in stores and online. Over-the-counter hearing aids from Walmart are available online at Walmart.com and SamsClub.com, at 474 Sam's Club Hearing Aid Centers, and in over 1,000 Vision Centers in Walmart stores in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

The CVS now offers a wide selection of over-the-counter hearing aids on its website, including models in different price ranges. Best Buy will sell 20 hearing aids online this week. The enterprise will have over 300 storefronts around the nation selling hearing aids by the end of the month.

Products will cost anything from $ 200 to $3,000. Starting this week, Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin will sell hearing aids over the counter. The White House has announced that there would be four types of hearing aids, with prices ranging from $499.99 to $999.99.

The FDA in August issued a final regulation creating a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids to expand the availability and decrease the associated costs for the millions of Americans who may benefit from them. The decision came after an executive order by President Joe Biden in 2021 requesting that the FDA begin the process of approving over-the-counter sales of hearing aids.

The new regulation covers goods marketed to individuals who self-diagnose mild-to-moderate hearing loss. According to experts from the non-profit Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), people with hearing loss may have problems with speech and communication. Children or people with severe hearing loss cannot use hearing aids that are offered without a prescription.

Under the new regulations, a physician's evaluation, prescription, or audiologist's fitting is no longer necessary before purchasing a device. Seeing a doctor before purchasing a hearing aid is still an option, and experts say doing so has benefits, including getting a device custom-tailored to your requirements and having your hearing loss tracked over time.

But for HLAA executive director Barbara Kelley, the new regulations are a positive development as they prompt more people with hearing loss problems to purchase hearing aids. Kelly noted that it often takes people with hearing loss "five to seven years" before deciding to buy a hearing device, per NPR.

Millions to Benefit From Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders approximates that only 16 percent of the millions of people with hearing loss use a hearing aid, CNN reported.

There is a sizable population with hearing impairment. Hearing loss in both ears affects around 1 in 8 Americans aged 12 and over, and the prevalence of this condition rises sharply with age. One-fourth of those aged 65 to 74 suffer from hearing loss, and that number rises to half among those aged 75 and beyond.

Hearing aids are a necessity for maintaining both physical and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that people with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids are more likely to report being in poor health and are less willing to leave the house.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said there is a greater chance of dying from mishaps if one has hearing loss, making it the second biggest cause of accidental death globally.

Some research has also discovered a correlation between hearing impairment and diminished psychological and social well-being. Hearing loss has been linked to mental health issues, including depression and dementia.