Should you get an over-the-counter hearing aid or see a hearing specialist? – Michigan Medicine
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration announced that hearing aids will soon be available for purchase over the counter for adults with “mild to moderate hearing loss.” Before this new regulation was announced, individuals were required to see an audiologist to obtain a traditional hearing aid.
Currently, to determine if a hearing aid will improve a patient’s communication, two important evaluations are administered by a hearing health care professional. First, a comprehe…….
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration announced that hearing aids will soon be available for purchase over the counter for adults with “mild to moderate hearing loss.” Before this new regulation was announced, individuals were required to see an audiologist to obtain a traditional hearing aid.
Currently, to determine if a hearing aid will improve a patient’s communication, two important evaluations are administered by a hearing health care professional. First, a comprehensive review of the patient’s communication needs is completed. And then a standardized test called an audiometry is given to quantify the severity and type of hearing loss experienced.
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Once the audiologist has a complete picture of the patient’s hearing loss, as well as an idea of the situations where they encounter hearing difficulty, they will recommend the most appropriate type of hearing technology.
However, millions of Americans will soon be able to purchase hearing aids at places like their local pharmacy without a consultation with an audiologist. But Devin McCaslin, Ph.D., director of audiology at Michigan Medicine, says that there are a few significant things to remember when dealing with hearing loss.
“Overall, this new change is great,” said McCaslin. “Before, there were just a few manufacturers that made hearing aids, which led to an access barrier that revolved around cost. But now the FDA estimates that people will save nearly $2,800 when purchasing hearing aids, which is phenomenal.”
McCaslin says that prior to this regulation, many individuals avoided addressing their hearing issues because of other inhibiting factors.
“You’re now going to see a lot of people that have been living with problems related to their hearing for a long time seeking hearing aids,” he said. “This may be because they didn’t want to see an audiologist, for example, or because they lacked awareness around their individual condition. Inevitably, the perceived ‘risks’ associated with addressing hearing loss will now be fewer, which will better serve a lot of people.”
However, McCaslin notes that if an individual is on the fence about whether they have mild to moderate hearing loss, it is always best to see a hearing professional before purchasing an over-the-counter hearing …….
