Hearing Aids Are Now Available Over the Counter. What to Know Before Buying One

On Oct. 17, hearing aids approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) became available over the counter for the first time, for potentially thousands of dollars less than prescription hearing aids. Many experts are hopeful that opening the market up will spur the creation of innovative new devices, bring down costs, and encourage hearing-aid use in a country where only a fraction of older adults who are hard of hearing use hearing aids. What do these expanded options mean for people who are thinking about buying a hearing aid? For now, experts say there’s still a lot we don’t know—including which devices will be announced in the coming months and how much prices may fluctuate on the new market. However, over-the-counter hearing aids could make a big difference in your life if you have mild or moderate hearing loss. Here’s what you need to know. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] When will over-the-counter hearing aids be available at stores? The first over-the-counter hearing aids are available online and in-person at some stores, including pharmacies like Walgreens, beginning this week. Walmart announced on Oct. 17 that hearing aids will be available at its website, at Walmart Vision Centers in certain states (although the company plans to eventually offer these services nationwide) and at more than 400 Sam’s Club Hearing Aid Center locations. More stores are expected to announce that they’ll be carrying over-the-coun...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Aging healthscienceclimate Source Type: news