Do you remember those gallon buckets of ice cream you used to find at supermarkets? An entire gallon of ice cream, yum!
But as you grow up, you begin to get a bit more specific. Your ice cream preferences get 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.
But you will still probably go for that big bucket if you’re having a large dinner party. Which means that each type of ice cream has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Generic is good in certain circumstances, but you may want more specialized ice cream in other circumstances.
This same mindset also pertains to hearing aids. How good are those new over-the-counter hearing aids? Well, it’s a lot like that ice cream: it depends on what your plans are.
Hearing loss can have significant impacts
Your daily life can be significantly impacted by hearing loss. Social solitude that frequently accompanies hearing loss can cause you to avoid having conversations because you’re unable to hear what others are saying.
This can cause you to feel removed from your family and friends. When you go to the supermarket you use self-checkout so you can avoid the cashiers. It’s lonely. And it can bring about a faster mental decline as you age.
So it’s not simply that you’re unable to hear what your family and friends are saying, but you could also be increasing your chances of other potentially severe health issues.
Over-the-counter hearing aids – how they work
Given the harm that hearing loss can cause, it’s not very difficult to see the appeal of hearing aids that are easy to get.
By their nature, over-the-counter hearing aids are designed to be convenient. You just walk into your local pharmacy and you never need to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. You pick up a pair of these devices, pay for them, and head home. Once they’re in your ears, they function to boost the sound around you.
Your life can be greatly and positively influenced by this.
Over-the-counter hearing aids can do the trick in some scenarios
Over-the-counter hearing aids started to appear on store shelves in late 2022 after the Food and Drug Administration made some changes to certain rules that allowed for their broader distribution. The idea was that if hearing aids were more readily available, you’d wind up with fewer people who had neglected hearing loss.
You’ve always had to go through somewhat of a process to acquire prescription hearing aids. And sometimes, that process can keep people away. Over-the-counter hearing aids may not be a bad solution for individuals who just aren’t ready to make the leap. But prescription hearing aids were not meant to be replaced by over-the-counter models.
Regrettably, this means that consumers now bear some of the burden of knowing when OTC hearing aids are a good choice (and when they aren’t).
How are OTC hearing aids different from prescription hearing aids?
Generally speaking, OTC hearing aids aren’t quite as powerful, efficient, or customizable as prescription hearing aids. They will also not fit particularly as well, and they won’t be customized to your needs.
So, are over-the-counter hearing aids worthwhile at all? There actually can be some advantages to an OTC in certain situations. OTC hearing aids might be the best option if:
- You’re never going to get your hearing checked. (Some individuals never will, even though they absolutely should.) Generally speaking, using an OTC hearing aid will be better than using nothing.
- You want a spare pair in case of emergencies.
- You have really basic or early-stage hearing loss. These devices are great for very mild or moderate hearing loss.
- You’ve consulted your hearing specialist, and they recommend using an OTC hearing aid. (For best outcomes, ask your hearing specialist to go over settings and style types that may work best for you.)
It’s fairly 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 the right choice and if you have high-frequency hearing loss other models will be the best choice. (So before you invest in a hearing aid, you should certainly get a better idea of your level and type of hearing loss.).
When OTC hearing aids aren’t a practical solution
So are there downsides to OTC 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 circumstance. Generally, OTC hearing aids might not be the right solution for you if:
- You need to hear in complex or noisy settings. Most prescription hearing aids can be customized depending on what you need to hear and where you need to hear it.
- A cheaper hearing aid that does not effectively manage your hearing loss most likely isn’t worth what it cost you.
- OTC hearing aids are not custom fit the way you may need them to be. Sometimes, you may need something with a custom fit, which is only feasible with a prescription hearing aid.
- Exactly which hearing aid to get is still unknown to you: For some people with hearing loss, the wrong hearing aids can actually damage their ears. (It’s comparable to using really loud earbuds.)
- Your hearing loss has progressed to a fairly profound stage. While OTC hearing aids can be helpful for mild and moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss will need something more powerful and more sophisticated.
- You’re only thinking about OTC hearing aids because of perceived cost savings. OTC hearing aids are frequently nearly as costly as their prescription-only alternative.
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 specific hearing loss.
Either way, you should consult a hearing specialist
For some people, OTC hearing aids will be fine, but for others, prescription hearing aids will be needed. Whichever option 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 once 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.
Make an appointment with us so we can help you determine what hearing aid type is right for you.