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Maybe yes, but probably no. Clear as mud, right? Unless you’ve lived under a rock over the past few years, you now know that basic hearing aids can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC). This is a question I get almost every day. The answer is not a simple yes or no answer.
The purpose of the OTC law was to make hearing aids more affordable which is an admirable goal but let’s look at the questions you need to ask:
To purchase any of this equipment, a hearing test is not required. On the face of it, this is a part of the law that severely missed the ball. If you don’t have a hearing test, how are you supposed to know what you need? If you have a severe hearing loss, you will under-amplify your loss; if you have a mild loss, you could be over-amplifying. What if it is just wax? What if you need surgery? What if it is an infection? Or a tumor?
If you do purchase an OTC hearing aid, who is going to teach you how to use it? What happens when they stop working? Will the clerk at Best Buy or CVS be able to clean them for you? What happens when they need to be repaired? What is the warranty and what does the warranty cover? Remember, just because they are bought in a drugstore, doesn’t mean they are $25.00. I saw an ad in a Walgreens flyer advertising them for $800.00. That’s a lot of money for something that you may not be able to get serviced.
How long has the company been in business? Most of the main hearing aid manufacturers have been in the business for over 75 years. They have years’ worth of research to back-up their products. Hearing is very complex which is why there are so many different options. It is confusing and overwhelming which is why we often refer to hearing loss as a “journey” and many people need guides to be successful.
Most hearing aid technology has built-in Bluetooth technology but it seems that many of the OTC brands are not including Bluetooth, nor are they rechargeable. They are also clunky looking; today’s prescription hearing aids are much better looking and can be customized for you.
The OTC class of hearing aids is geared for people with mild hearing loss, but without a hearing test, how do you know what you need?
I recently had two people come see me after buying OTC aids. One brought in the Bose hearing aid. This person had a severe hearing loss and the Bose aid was not providing any usable amplification at all. Thankfully, the person was within the return period and was able to get a refund. The other person came in with an brand I haven’t heard of; it was rechargeable but had stopped charging after 3 months and when they tried calling customer service, the aids ended up in the drawer because customer service was not able to help and the person was past the return period and so lost about $1000.00.
The bottom line here is: Buyer Beware and at the very least, have a hearing test prior to buying anything. Be an educated consumer. Research the brand. Make sure that you can get help when you need it, because just like all electronic devices, hearing aids need repair periodically. Pay attention to the refund policy and the warranty.
At Audiology with a Heart, we are committed to walking this journey with you. We are here to help you choose the best solution available. Hearing tests are always no charge with no obligation to continue working with us. We will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about your best way forward.
Audiology with a Heart
(561) 366-7219
audiologywithaheart.com
2324 S. Congress Ave.
Suite 2G Palm Springs, FL 33406
