OTC (Over the Counter) Hearing Aids
What are OTC hearing devices?
In October 2022, the FDA approved two new classes of OTC hearing aids that, unlike prescription hearing aids, are not required to be purchased from a hearing care professional. If you have untreated mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears, they may help you hear better.
5 Differences Between OTC and Prescription/Traditional Hearing Aids
Who They’re Intended For
OTC: Intended for those over 18 years old with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, who are tech savvy, who have no medical red flags (see examples below), and who desire self-fitting product without assistance of audiologist
HAs: Intended for all ages and all severities of hearing losses, includes assistance of an audiologist guiding you through identifying and monitoring your hearing loss and selection, fitting, validation, and long-term maintenance of hearing aids
Accessibility
OTC: More accessible because available online and in retail establishments, there’s no hearing professional or hearing test required, they’re as a whole less expensive, and available in rural areas where audiologists are less common
HAs: Require purchasing through a hearing professional and as such are subject to state medical licensing laws because they’re considered medical devices by the FDA and have mandatory regulations to ensure safety and effectiveness
Affordability
OTC: Cheaper as a whole because removes the cost of a hearing professional’s services; $200-3000/pair generally
HAs: More expensive as a whole because the guidance, support, and expertise of a hearing professional is required, $1100-4200/pair at ASH Audiology
Level of Customer Support
OTC: Consumer is responsible for choosing brand, make, model, acoustic coupling (eg. ear piece), and self-fitting of OTC hearing aid through smart phone, consumer is responsible for insertion and removal of device, care and maintenance, and all associated troubleshooting in the beginning and when electronics start malfunctioning down the road
HAs: An audiologist can provide best practices by identifying your hearing loss, prescribing appropriate hearing aids, fit and validate HAs to your hearing prescription, and provide on-going in-person support
Performance
OTC: Decent performance, not many adjustments can be made to optimize hearing outcomes, most don’t have fully functioning Bluetooth capabilities, have worse battery life, and are meant for situational use rather than full time use
HAs: Fantastic performance, many adjustments are available to optimize hearing outcomes including, up to 24-band equalizers to adjust specific frequencies a hearing loss prescription needs, background noise management, eliminating feedback (squealing), custom options to optimize physical comfort or desired invisibility of hearing aids, tinnitus programs and adjustments, and wind noise suppression, fully functioning Bluetooth capabilities with streaming, have better battery life, have accessories to help in specific environments (TV, speaker at a distance, soft talkers, phone), and include telecoil function to connect to hearing loop systems in theatres and public spaces
Who is a good candidate for OTC hearing aids?
People over 18 years old with symmetrical mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears
For people who are noticing mild situational hearing problems, OTC hearing aids can be a great solution to start. If you're already having trouble understanding normal speech in a quiet one-on-one conversation, the amplification provided by an OTC hearing aid might not be strong enough to help you.
People who are tech savvy and self learners
Most OTC products require a smartphone at minimum to work and are purchased online without the assistance of an audiologist to help pick the most appropriate brand, power level, instructions on insertion, use, care, and maintenance of the devices. Many also require online hearing screenings and programming and adjustments of the devices to be made through an app on your smartphone. Instructions on use, like any electronic, are often found in a written manual.
People who have no medical red flags
Although many hearing losses are benign in nature, there are medical conditions that can cause hearing loss and should not be treated without first seeing an audiologist or ear, nose, and throat physician. Examples of medical red flags include, a sudden onset or change in hearing, tinnitus, vertigo, or dizziness, earwax buildup, frequent ear infections, ear drainage, ear pain, hearing loss in one ear, or asymmetrical hearing loss.
Who is not a good candidate for OTC hearing aids?
People with moderate to profound hearing loss
OTC hearing aids are not powerful enough to treat more severe hearing losses. They are also less regulated by the FDA to ensure safety, quality assurances, and consumer protections regarding marketing claims, sales practices, and repair and return policies are transparent.
People with bothersome tinnitus or other sound sensitivities
OTC hearing aids are not made to treat tinnitus, misophonia, or hyperacusis. These conditions require an audiologist to diagnose and successfully treat.
People who prefer the guidance of a professional who follows best practices
OTC hearing aids are intended to be a more convenient way to obtain hearing help. They are sold in-the-box, as-is. OTC hearing aids are retail products. Prescription hearing aids are medical devices that include medical care.
People who demand optimal technological performance
There’s a night and day difference of sophistication in the technology between OTC and prescription hearing aids. Hearing aids have a superior capability to make programming adjustments for sound quality and comfort by an audiologist. This is especially important for music appreciation and those who have sloping hearing losses.
People who have medical red flags
Someone whose hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, or dizziness began or changed suddenly should immediately see an audiologist or ear, nose, and throat physician, within days of the symptoms if possible. Someone with frequent ear infections, drainage from their ears, ear pain, or earwax buildup should seek medical attention before pursuing any hearing technology.
People with hearing loss in one ear or different hearing losses in each ear
Hearing loss in one ear or asymmetrical hearing losses may require the use of special hearing aid technologies, like cros, bi-cros, or bone anchored hearing aids that only a profesional can prescribe. OTC hearing aids are designed to work identically with two ears, so if there’s a difference in your hearing in your ears, OTC hearing aids will not work well.
People under 18 years old
Children until 18 should always seek medical care through a professional to ensure an accurate hearing loss is diagnosed and monitored over time, assurance that a child doesn’t fall behind academically or struggle socially due to their hearing loss, and speech develops properly.
There are 4 main styles of OTC hearing aids and amplifiers:
If you’d like a more thorough review of OTC hearing aids, read our blog post that goes into more detail on this issue. We also sell our favorite OTC products in our online shop.
FAQs
Will my OTC or prescription hearing aids be covered by insurance?
For OTC hearing aids, most likely no. For prescription hearing aids, it depends on your insurance plan. Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids, but many private insurances and Medicare supplements/replacements do offer at least some amount of coverage. To find out if you get full or partial coverage for hearing aids, contact ASH Audiology, and we’ll check your benefits for you. To learn more, click here to be redirected to a website with more details.
What if I need hearing aids, but I can’t afford them?
ASH Audiology’s mission is to help every person who wants to hear better, regardless of financial status. We offer financing, payment plans, and unbundled services to help ease up front costs. To learn more about these, click here. If you can’t afford hearing aids, you have a few options. First, if you’re working or in school and live in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Rehab Services may offer full assistance for two hearing aids and any assistive listening devices necessary. We’d be happy to help you connect with them and get the process started. If you’re over 60, on a limited income, and live in Oklahoma, the Senior Citizens Hearing Aid Program may offer full assistance for one hearing aid. To get started, click here. There are also several charitable organizations which provide hearing aids at partial cost to low-income individuals. Let us know how we can help.
I already own OTC hearing aids. Will ASH Audiology help me hear better with them or fix them?
Yes. Our mission is to help anyone hear better in any way we can. No matter if you purchased your OTC products or prescription hearing aids from us or somewhere else, we are happy to service them. We will run real ear measurements to see how the devices are performing acoustically and for your hearing loss and then make adjustments to optimize your hearing with them. Sometimes repairs just require a simple part replacement or cleaning. Repairs and checks follow our customary pricing for prescription hearing aid repairs and checks. Read more about our pricing here.
“After having problems with my hearing for several months, which steadily got worse, I called Dr. Rachel. It was one of those things where I couldn't take the time off work and go to an office and wait. Amazingly, Dr. Rachel came to my office. She performed the tests very quickly and efficiently and then very patiently answered all my questions. She made me feel very comfortable and I would highly recommend her services.”
— Gayla Millican in OKC, OK