Remember when you used to be able to find those gallon buckets of ice cream at the grocery store? An entire gallon of ice cream, yum!
But you begin to become more specific in your taste as you get older. Your ice cream tastes become more specialized and you have a tendency to go for your favorite brand. All of a sudden, those smaller containers are the ones that are enticing.
Still, if you’re hosting a large dinner party, you’re likely to go for those generic buckets of Kemp’s ice cream. Which means that each type of ice cream has its own unique strengths and drawbacks. Generic is good in some situations, but you might want more specific ice cream in other situations.
This same attitude also applies to hearing aids. Are newer over-the-counter hearing aids any good? Well, much like our ice cream illustration, it depends on what you want to do.
Hearing loss can have serious affects
Your day-to-day life can be significantly impacted by hearing loss. Social solitude that often accompanies hearing loss can cause you to abstain from having conversations because you’re unable to hear what people are saying.
This can make you feel removed from your family and friends. You even avoid the cashier at the supermarket. It’s lonely. And it can bring about a faster cognitive decline as you get older.
So it’s not simply that you can’t hear what your friends and family are saying, but you could also be increasing your chances of other potentially serious health issues.
Over-the-counter hearing aids – how they work
Given the harm that hearing loss can lead to, it’s not very difficult to see the attraction of hearing aids that are easy to get.
Convenience is the very nature of the attraction of over-the-counter hearing aids. You simply go into your local pharmacy and you never have to make an appointment with a hearing specialist. You pick up a pair of these devices, pay for them, and head home. They essentially amplify all of the sound around you.
Your life can be profoundly and positively impacted by this.
In some cases over-the-counter hearing aids can work
Over-the-counter hearing aids started to appear on store shelves in late 2022 after the Food and Drug Administration made changes to certain rules 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.
It’s never been difficult to purchase a prescription hearing aid, but it is a process. Many people, unfortunately, feel intimidated by this process so they stay away from it. Over-the-counter hearing aids might not be a bad solution for individuals who just aren’t ready to make the leap. But over-the-counter hearing aids were not designed to replace their prescription counterparts.
But this means that some of the burden of recognizing when over-the-counter hearing aids are or aren’t the right choice lies with the consumer.
What’s the difference between over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids?
In general, OTC hearing aids are not quite as powerful, efficient, or personalized as prescription hearing aids. They will also not fit quite as well, and they won’t be customized to your needs.
So, are over-the-counter hearing aids worthwhile at all? Well, yes, in some situations. An OTC hearing aid might work best for you if:
- You keep a pair around just in case your prescription hearing aids need to go in for maintenance.
- You’re never going to get your hearing checked. (Some people never will, even though they definitely should.) An OTC hearing aid is typically better than no hearing aid at all.
- You’ve consulted your hearing specialist, and they endorse using an OTC hearing aid. (Hopefully, your hearing specialist will even recommend which style or type, and what settings will work best.)
- Your hearing loss is in the early stages and is really simple. These devices are great for really mild or moderate hearing loss.
It’s fairly common for OTC presets to be pre-programmed when you buy them. Some devices are good for low-frequency hearing loss, others might be effective for high-frequency hearing loss. (So before you invest in a hearing aid, you should definitely get a better idea of your level and type of hearing loss.).
OTC hearing aids are often not the right option
So, what are the drawbacks to over-the-counter hearing aids? Are there adverse side effects of over-the-counter hearing aids?
Well, let’s just say that OTC hearing aids aren’t a great fit for everyone in every situation. In general, OTC hearing aids might not be the right solution for you if:
- Your hearing loss has progressed to a fairly severe stage. While OTC hearing aids can be helpful for mild and moderate hearing loss, profound hearing loss will require something more powerful and more refined.
- OTC hearing aids aren’t custom fit the way you might need them to be. Sometimes, you might need something with a custom fit, which is only possible with a prescription hearing aid.
- Is the money you spent really worth it if that OTC hearing aid isn’t effective in treating your hearing loss?
- You need to hear in challenging or noisy settings. Depending on what surroundings you need to hear in and exactly what you’re listening to, prescription hearing aids can be customized for those situations.
- Exactly which hearing aid to invest in is still unknown to you: The wrong hearing aids can actually make your hearing worse for someone who has hearing loss. (It’s not a lot different than if you turn your earbuds up to a really loud setting.)
- You think OTC hearing aids will save you a lot of money. Well, prescription hearing aids often don’t cost a great deal more than OTC hearing aids.
Are there any risks that come with OTC hearing aids? In general, if you aren’t a good candidate for OTC hearing aids, you could be wasting some money or making your hearing loss worse.
Consult a hearing specialist either way
OTC hearing aids are a good fit for some people and prescription hearing aids are a good fit for others. Whichever decision is best for your situation, your hearing aids will work better after you get an appointment with us.
You will be capable of getting better treatment when you know more about your hearing loss. We can help steer you toward the best hearing aid for your symptoms, whether it’s OTC or prescription.
Similarly, we can help you better adjust to a new set of hearing aids, and get the most out of the technology.
Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you determine what hearing aid type is best for you.
