Hearing Aids Are Now Available Over the Counter

Consumers will be able to buy hearing aids directly off store shelves when a federal law takes effect on Monday.

It used to cost thousands of dollars to get a device that could be purchased only with a prescription from a hearing professional, now a new category of over-the-counter aids are selling for hundreds of dollars Walmart will sell a hearing aid for less than $200.

The over-the-counter aids are intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, a market of tens of millions of people.

Dr. Frank Lin is the director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health at John'sHopkins University. He thinks it will take a couple of years for the new market to shake out as manufacturers and retailers get used to selling aids.

Hearing care experts are happy to see the prices decrease. As more competitors enter the market, Lin thinks prices will fall further.

The prices and features of OTC hearing aids will be similar to those of prescription aids. A pair of prescription devices can sell for thousands of dollars. The cheaper OTC aids will have some of the technology found in the pricier prescriptions.

The OTC aids are less expensive because they don't bundle the services of an audiologist. The new devices are meant to be set up by the consumers, although manufacturers will offer technical assistance through apps and phone.

Sony is a new company in the market. The lowest-cost OTC hearing aid will be available at Best Buy.

The South Africa-based company hearX, which makes Lexie devices, will be included in the assortment of OTC hearing aids. Walmart stores in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas are where the devices will be sold initially. They are expected to be available nationwide soon.

The Lexie Lumen hearing aid will be available at Walgreens. The Lexie hearing aid developed in partnership with Bose will be offered at Walmart.

One of the largest sellers of hearing aids can't say if it will sell them over the counter.

The co- founder of hearX said that the Lexie Lumen OTC hearing aid will allow consumers to program it. Preprogrammed settings will be offered by other OTC devices.

He said there is going to be a need for education for consumers about what is different between devices.

Lin said that some consumers may want to have their hearing tested before purchasing an OTC aid. Which hearing aid is best for a particular type of hearing loss can be recommended by an audiologist. Medicare and most health insurers do not charge a fee for hearing tests. Private Medicare Advantage plans do cover the cost of hearing aids.

Lin said that consumers can take hearing tests on their phone or computer.

People commonly use ear devices to listen to music, which could fuel demand for the new devices.

More than 37 million Americans have trouble hearing, and only 1 in 4 of them use a hearing aid, according to federal health officials.

Because of consolidation among manufacturers, widespread state licensing laws that mandate sales through audiologists or other hearing professionals, and the acquisition of hearing professionals' practices by device-makers, the hearing aid industry has remained insulated from price competition.

Spurred by decades of complaints about the high cost of hearing aids, Congress ordered the FDA to set rules that would allow over-the-counter sales. President Joe Biden ordered the FDA to make the rules after the covid epidemic slowed the FDA effort. Two months ago, the final regulations were released. The federal rules allow the new category of hearing aids to be used.

People with severe hearing loss won't be helped by the new category. Sarah said that over-amplifying sound can cause hearing loss.

Nicholas Reed said that the devices are not as dangerous as listening to music with earbuds turned up. The new aids are required to have safe audio levels.

Consumers should be aware that the new devices will be clearly labeled as FDA approved, according to Tom Powers, a hearing aid industry consultant. Inexpensive personal devices that amplify sound but don't address other parts of hearing loss are similar to these.

Reed says to look for hearing aids with generous return policies. It is possible for consumers to try a device for a few weeks. They should try other brands if one doesn't work.

It is unclear if consumers will get in-store help in selecting an aid. Stores plan to help. Information on Walmart's website will help people find the right device.

Reed said consumers should look for devices labeled as self-fitting because it shows the companies have proved to the FDA that people can set up these devices themselves.

Reed said that if you are tech savvy, then he said that you should talk to a trained audiologist.

Nancy M. Williams is the president of Auditory Insight, a hearing health care management consulting firm. Some look like earbuds and others look like traditional hearing aids. Only about half of the OTC aids she reviewed have rechargeable batteries, and they don't have a feature that lets users personalize the device. The results of their hearing test can be used to personalize the devices.

She encourages people to try at least three OTC aids.

The Hearing Loss Association of America, a consumer advocacy group, also has online advice, as does the American Academy of Audiology.

Barbara Kelley is the Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America. She said that it would be a little confusing. More people will get help with their hearing thanks to the new options. She stated that the benefits outweigh the risks.

KHN produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Policy Analysis and Polling are two of the major operating programs at KFF. Information on health issues to the nation is provided by KFF.