Remember when you used to be able to find those gallon buckets of ice cream at the supermarket? An entire gallon of ice cream, yum!
But you begin to become more specific in your taste as you mature. You begin opting for the more specialized ice cream: the Haagen-Daaz, the Tillamook, the Ben & Jerry’s. Those little containers begin to become more appealing.
Still, if you’re hosting a large dinner party, you’re likely to spring for those generic Kemp’s ice cream buckets. Which means that every type of ice cream has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. In some scenarios, you will want to go with the specialized option, and in others, the generic will be a better solution.
This same mindset also pertains to hearing aids. Are new over-the-counter hearing aids any good? Well, it’s a lot like that ice cream: it depends on what your plans are.
Hearing loss can have significant affects
Hearing loss can have a significant effect on your day-to-day activities. Social isolation that often accompanies hearing loss can cause you to avoid having conversations because you’re unable to hear what others are saying.
Which means you find yourself estranged from your friends and family. You even steer clear of the cashier at the grocery store. It isn’t a happy way to live. And as you get older, your cognitive faculties can decline faster.
So not only are you failing to hear conversations with your loved ones (making birthdays and holidays a lot less enjoyable, for instance), but you have other health issues to worry about also!
Over-the-counter hearing aids – how they work
It isn’t hard to understand why individuals would want to go towards hearing aids that can be obtained easily, given the health consequences of hearing loss.
By their nature, over-the-counter hearing aids are made to be convenient. You simply go into your local pharmacy and you never have to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. You pick up a pair of these devices, pay for them, and go home. They basically amplify all of the sound around you.
This can have a profoundly positive affect on your life.
Over-the-counter hearing aids can do the trick in some situations
Over-the-counter hearing aids began appearing on store shelves in late 2022 after the Food and Drug Administration made rule changes that allowed for their broader distribution. The idea was that if hearing aids were more conveniently available, you’d wind up with fewer people who had untreated hearing loss.
You’ve always had to go through a bit of a process to acquire prescription hearing aids. And sometimes, that process can cause people to stay away. Over-the-counter hearing aids may not be a bad choice for individuals who just aren’t ready to make the leap. But prescription hearing aids were never meant to be replaced by over-the-counter models.
Unfortunately, this means that individuals now bear some of the burden of knowing when OTC hearing aids are a good choice (and when they aren’t).
What’s the difference between over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids?
In general, OTC hearing aids aren’t quite as powerful, capable, or customizable as prescription hearing aids. They won’t be personalized to your specific requirements and they won’t fit as well.
So is there anything helpful or beneficial about OTC hearing aids? Well, yes, in certain circumstances. An OTC hearing aid may work best for you if:
- You’ve consulted your hearing specialist, and they suggest using an OTC hearing aid. (Hopefully, your hearing specialist will even recommend which style or type, and what settings will perform most optimally.)
- You’re never going to get a hearing test. (You absolutely should. But we also understand that some people simply never will.) Generally speaking, using an OTC hearing aid will be better than using no hearing aid.
- You have very basic or early-stage hearing loss. These devices are great for really mild or moderate hearing loss.
- You want a spare set in case of emergencies.
It’s pretty typical for OTC presets to be pre-programmed when you get them. If your hearing loss is in the lower frequencies, some models will be best and if you have high-frequency hearing loss other models will be the best option. (This is why it’s good to understand more about your own hearing loss before you buy any hearing aid, OTC or not).
OTC hearing aids are often not the ideal choice
So, what are the drawbacks to over-the-counter hearing aids? Are there side effects of over-the-counter hearing aids?
Well every situation won’t include OTC hearing aids, let’s just say. Generally, OTC hearing aids might not be the right solution for you if:
- You think OTC hearing aids will save you a ton of money. Well, prescription hearing aids commonly don’t cost much more than OTC hearing aids.
- OTC hearing aids aren’t custom fit the way you might need them to be. A custom fit is frequently necessary for some people and OTC hearing aids don’t allow for this.
- When you’re in challenging and noisy settings, you need to be able to hear. The majority of prescription hearing aids can be personalized depending on what you need to hear and where you need to hear it.
- You have more severe hearing loss. While OTC hearing aids can be helpful for less significant hearing loss, profound hearing loss will require something more powerful and more refined.
- You don’t know precisely which hearing aid to purchase: The wrong hearing aids can actually make your hearing worse for somebody with hearing loss. (It’s not much different than if you crank your earbuds up to a really loud volume.)
- Is the money you spent really worth it if that OTC hearing aid is that much lower in power?
Are there any dangers that come with OTC hearing aids? You could be wasting good money and doing more damage to your ears by using OTC hearing aids if they’re not the best solution for your distinct hearing loss.
Consult a hearing specialist either way
OTC hearing aids are suitable for some individuals and prescription hearing aids are the best choice for others. Whichever decision is best for your circumstance, your hearing aids will work better after you have an appointment with us.
You will be capable of getting better treatment once you know more about your hearing loss. Whether your hearing loss calls for prescription hearing aids or OTC hearing aids, we can help you get the best treatment for your circumstance.
In the same way, we can help you better adapt to a new set of hearing aids, and get the most out of the technology.
If you believe you have hearing loss and want to see if OTC hearing aids are the right choice for you, make an appointment with us today.
