Hearing aids can now be sold over the counter in the U.S.

The FDA approved hearing aids for sale without a prescription.

Approximately 15 percent of adults in the US have trouble hearing, and many people have been waiting for this day for a long time. The FDA's goal was to make hearing aids accessible to more people who need them and to encourage competition and lower prices. The FDA regulates over-the-counter hearing aids to make sure they're safe.

"Hearing loss is a critical public health issue that affects the ability of millions of Americans to effectively communicate in their daily social interactions," the FDA commissioner said at the time.

People with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to have convenient access to an array of safe, effective and affordable hearing aids from their neighborhood store or online.

Sony is one of the first companies to offer prescription-free hearing aids. The company's CRE-C10 and CRE-E10 hearing aids will set you back almost a thousand dollars each. It's still cheaper than the average cost of hearing aids, with a pair capable of costing anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000.

Prior to the FDA's approval, anyone wanting to get a hearing aid had to undergo a medical and/or audiological examination to evaluate the type and amount of their hearing loss.

It is possible to order your hearing aids online and set them up at home.