Over The Counter Hearing Aids… Yay or Nay?!

Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids… Coming soon to a store near you!

Let’s talk about the hype, the allure, and the reality of Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids starting with the obvious questions...

What are OTC Hearing Aids?

OTC hearing aids are FDA-approved Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs). PSAPs have been available on the market at electronic stores like Best Buy for a long time but aren’t advertised to treat hearing loss per se. They’re used for hunting, bird watching… among other more nefarious activities like spying that even normal hearing individuals might need or want to use them for.[1]

Who can benefit from OTC hearing aids?

Not everyone is a prime candidate for OTC hearing aids.

They have been created for ADULTS who BELIEVE they have mild-to-moderate hearing loss. How do you know if your hearing loss might be in this range? Great question!

A few common symptoms you may be experiencing are:

Muffled speech or other sounds.
Difficulty hearing when in a group, noisy area, on the phone, or when you can’t see who is talking.
Do you ask others to speak up, slow down, or even repeat themselves?
Do you turn up the volume on the tv or stereo much higher than other people prefer?

Hearing conditions that require immediate medical attention.jpg

BUT if you’re trouble with hearing includes conversations in quiet settings—or hearing loud sounds like vehicles or loud music, you’re likely experiencing a more significant degree of hearing loss. So, honestly, don’t waste your money on a set of OTC hearing aids before you consult an Audiologist! And pssst… you can find those like me who offer a free consultation before you have to start rollin’ out the dough!

AND then some conditions may cause hearing loss that requires immediate medical attention. So, if you experience any of the following symptoms below, as detailed by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)[2], make a call to your doctor or audiologist asap!

Fluid, pus, or blood coming out of your ear within the previous six months.
Pain or discomfort in your ear.
A history of excessive ear wax or suspicion that something is in your ear canal.
Episodes of vertigo (severe dizziness) with hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss or quickly worsening hearing loss.
Hearing loss that has gotten more and then less severe within the last six months.
Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing) in only one ear, or a noticeable difference in how well you can hear in each ear.

Will OTC Hearing Aids work for me?

Here’s the rub.

If you have trouble hearing in noise but not in quiet, you will likely find that the OTC hearing aids don’t do well in noisy situations. Sure, they advertise they reduce noise, but what kind of noise: loud or soft noise, speech or machine noise, high or low pitch noise?

If you have ‘mild to moderate hearing loss and you need amplification for one-on-one encounters in more sedate or quiet environments, then OTCs might be OK…

As long as they ‘physically’ fit OK.

Everyone’s ear shape and size are different, and the options that come with OTC for fitting in the ear are very generic… It will work for some but not many.

It all boils down to these three things… and noise is one of those things that can be a deal-breaker because it can interfere with all three:

The comfort of amplified sound.
Your physical comfort.
Your ability to understand speech.

Are OTC Hearing Aids Effective?

As far as the effectiveness of an OTC, as we’ve discussed, there are MANY variables! However, studies between hearing aids that have been customized by a professional versus directly by the user indicate that it’s possible for users with access to an interface control system to fine-tune their hearing aids as well as, if not better than an Audiologist can when it comes to sound quality. [3]

Now, as I’ve said, there are so many variables to this, including the quality of your hearing aid, the interface system, and your ability to comprehend and use both. Not to mention the quality of your Audiologist, or I should say, the quality of your relationship with your Audiologist and the use of their services!

For example, in testament to the quality of your hearing device, Sound World, Soundhawk, and Etymotic BEAN are hearing aid companies who promote the fact that they have marketed the exact same hearing aid with the same quality of performance in all three versions, a PSAP, OTC, and traditional Hearing Aid. The only difference between these devices is how they’re regulated. [1] Well, ok that and its important to note that these brands aren’t what audiologists would recommend, or prescribe. There is no replacement for working with an audiologist who knows which brand offers the perfect balance of technology and features to suit your individual needs.

So yes, it’s possible to get a workable hearing aid device OTC. But it’s going to take some research and due diligence on your part to make sure you select the right one for you… and hope it fits and works the way you need it to for your specific hearing needs.

Watch for the next article that discusses technology advancements and comparisons. For now, let’s continue with a broad spectrum review of OTC hearing aids...

The Hype & Allure of OTC Hearing Aids

EASY! OTC will be incredibly easy to acquire as well as easier on your pocketbook. You’re local drugstore, and convenience stores such as Walgreens will have OTCs on the shelf! Think you’re not hearing quite as well? Try it out, spend a few hundred bucks to better hear your loved ones and the world around you!

PRIVATE! A leading cause behind why many people don’t pursue getting help with their hearing loss is a sense of shame as there has long been a stigma around hearing loss. [4]

BETTER THAN NOTHING!

Even though hearing loss is the third most common physical condition[5], WebMD finds the average person with hearing loss WAITS SEVEN YEARS before finally seeking help!

Not to mention the staggering statistic that nearly 85% of the 28.8 million Americans who could benefit from using hearing aids don’t! And that number only decreases to about 70% for those 70 years or older![5]

So, by all means, if this is the only action you’re willing to take for the betterment of your hearing health, then at least you’re taking ownership, so go for it!

The Reality of OTC Hearing Aids

Some accuse Audiologists of disliking OTC hearing aids because of it causing a drop in their demand and bottom line. BUT most audiologists are leary of OTC hearing aids not for self-serving reasons… the reality is, we just know how complex hearing loss can be and how a cookie-cutter approach is a recipe for disaster… or at least disappointment. Why? Well, here are a few reasons:

They don’t diagnose or treat the root cause of your hearing loss… which might mean a medical condition is never treated that could improve your quality of hearing. Instead, you run the risk of it worsening and continuing to do real… even permanent... damage.
They Don’t come with the professional-level services
- While neither the quality nor the technology is comparable, the most significant disadvantage is quite possibly the fact that your set of over-the-counter hearing aids doesn’t come with the service package that gives you ‘free’ access to your provider for the life of your warranty, as is typical when you work with an Audiologist!
Commercialized — the profits are significant but invested in promotion, not perfection or advancing the product’s technology.
The more reputable companies like Signia, Starkey, ReSound GN, and even Miracle-Ear are developing their version of an over-the-counter hearing aid. However, they’re still far more expensive than you see advertised.
Only recommended for mild to moderate hearing loss… but how do YOU know without proper assessment?

Will OTC Hearing Aids Ever Be Offered By Audiologists?

The simple answer… well, there is no simple answer. As a community, I would like to hope that Audiologists will embrace this as a viable option to offer patients when it’s the RIGHT fit for their needs.

As far as Audiology NW goes, as soon as my physical clinic is open, I will be offering a few over-the-counter hearing aids as an option. You will be able to try them, see if they work, and if they do… well, you lucky dog you… you’ll be the envy of many! Just be sure to qualify your rave recommendation of the hearing aid with the fact that you got to try them out first, and miraculously they ended up being just what the doctor ordered!

Come back soon as the next two posts will discuss in greater detail technology advancements and comparisons and what it takes to get a great hearing aid fitting.

And in the meantime, call or email me to schedule your free consultation. Let’s find out your hearing health status and get you back to living life…

It’s worth hearing!