People dealing with hearing loss will be able to buy hearing aids without a doctor’s prescription as soon as mid-October.

The White House announced today that the FDA will move forward with plans to make hearing aids available over the counter in pharmacies, other retail locations, and online.This major milestone aims to make hearing aids easier to buy and more affordable, potentially saving families thousands of dollars. [1]

Figure 1. Hearing Aids available in October without a Prescription

Figure 1 shows an estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids, according to numbers from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. But only about 16% of people ages 20 to 69 years who could be helped by hearing aids have ever used them.

The risk for hearing loss increases with age. Among Americans ages 70 and older, only 30% who could hear better with these devices have ever used them, the institute reports.Once the FDA final rule takes effect, Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to buy a hearing aid without a doctor’s exam, prescription, or fitting adjustment. [2]

The rule will lower costs and expand access

Until now, the high cost of hearing aids and exams — which are not covered by basic Medicare and often not covered by insurance — has been prohibitive for many people. The devices alone typically range from $1,000 to $6,000 per ear, and consumers must spend additional time and money getting examined and fitted by a specialist (even though, the White House says, experts say medical evaluation is not necessary). [3]

Some may recall previous attempts by the government to cut consumer costs on the product. Back in 2017, Congress passed bipartisan legislation requiring the FDA to create a category of OTC hearing aids, but it was not fully implemented until now.

According to the official statement, the new administration set a swift 120-day deadline for action, which the agency met. As a result, consumers could see OTC hearing aids available online and in traditional retail and drug stores as soon as mid-October, when the ruling officially goes into effect. [4]v

References:

1. https://nccrea.com/hearing-aids-available-in-october-without-a-prescription/
2. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20220816/hearing-aids-available-in-october-without-a-prescription
3. https://www.npr.org/2022/08/16/1117741695/over-the-counter-hearing-aids
4. https://parade.com/news/hearing-aids-available-over-the-counter-without-prescription-2022

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Hearing Aids available in October without a Prescription, Anatechmaz, pp.281