Do you remember those gallon buckets of ice cream you used to find at grocery stores? A whole gallon of ice cream, yum!
But as you get older, you begin to get a little more particular. Your ice cream tastes get more specialized and you tend to opt for your favorite brand. Those little containers begin to become more enticing.
But you will probably still go for that big bucket if you’re hosting a big dinner party. Which means that every type of ice cream has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Generic is good in certain situations, but you may want more specific ice cream in other situations.
Of course, we’re also talking about hearing aids here. Are new over-the-counter hearing aids worthwhile? Well, it’s a lot like that ice cream: it depends on what your goals are.
Hearing loss can have serious impacts
Hearing loss can have a considerable impact on your day-to-day activities. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can encounter social isolation, it’s more difficult to carry on even simple conversations, so you steer clear of situations where you encounter other people who may want to talk to you.
This can make you feel removed from your family and friends. When you go to the supermarket you use self-checkout so you can steer clear of the cashiers. It’s not a happy way to live. And it can cause a faster cognitive decline as you get older.
So not only are you failing to hear conversations with your loved ones (making holidays and birthdays much less enjoyable, for example), but you have other health problems to worry about also!
How do over-the-counter hearing aids function?
Given the harm that hearing loss can lead to, it’s not hard to recognize the appeal of hearing aids that are easy to get.
By their very nature, over-the-counter hearing aids are made to be convenient. Instead of going to see a hearing specialist and getting fitted for hearing aids, you just stroll into your local pharmacy. You’re on your way home as soon as you get and pay for these devices. Once you put them in, they function to amplify the sound around you.
Your life can be profoundly and positively impacted by this.
In some instances over-the-counter hearing aids can work
In 2022 the Food and Drug Administration changed some rules about the distribution of hearing aids that allowed stores including pharmacies to sell them. 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 obtain a prescription hearing aid, but it is a process. Many individuals, regrettably, feel intimidated by this process so they avoid it. Over-the-counter hearing aids might not be a bad solution for people who just aren’t ready to deal with the process. But prescription hearing aids were not meant to be replaced by over-the-counter models.
Sadly, this means that individuals now bear some of the burden of determining when OTC hearing aids are a good fit (and when they aren’t).
How are OTC hearing aids different from prescription hearing aids?
As a general rule, prescription hearing aids are more powerful and have much more customizable functions than OTC hearing aids. They will also not fit particularly as well, and they won’t be customized to your needs.
So is there anything helpful or beneficial about OTC hearing aids? There actually can be some benefits to an OTC in particular situations. OTC hearing aids might be the best option if:
- You keep a pair on hand just in case your prescription hearing aids need to go in for repair.
- Your hearing specialist is recommending an OTC. (Hopefully, your hearing specialist will even recommend which style or type, and what settings will perform most optimally.)
- Your hearing loss is in the early stages and is really simple. These devices are great for very mild or moderate hearing loss.
- You have no plan to get your hearing assessed. (You absolutely should. But we also understand that some people just never will.) Generally speaking, using an OTC hearing aid will be better than using nothing.
It’s pretty typical for OTC presets to be pre-programmed when you get them. If your hearing loss is in the lower wavelengths, some types will be best and if you have high-frequency hearing loss other designs will be the best choice. (So before you buy a hearing aid, you should definitely get a better concept of your level and type of hearing loss.).
OTC hearing aids are often not the ideal option
So, what are the drawbacks to over-the-counter hearing aids? Are there side effects of over-the-counter hearing aids?
Well, let’s just say that OTC hearing aids aren’t a good fit for everybody in every situation. In general, OTC hearing aids may not be the right solution for you if:
- You’re only interested in OTC hearing aids because you think they cost a lot less. Well, prescription hearing aids often don’t cost a great deal more than OTC hearing aids.
- You have more severe hearing loss. While OTC hearing aids can be helpful for less significant hearing loss, severe hearing loss will require something more powerful and more sophisticated.
- You need to hear in challenging or noisy environments. Depending on what settings you need to hear in and precisely what you’re listening to, prescription hearing aids can be customized for those situations.
- Your hearing aids don’t fit well. Sometimes, you may require something with a custom fit, which is only feasible with a prescription hearing aid.
- Exactly which hearing aid to invest in is still uncertain to you: For some people who have hearing loss, the wrong hearing aids can actually harm their ears. (It’s comparable to using really loud earbuds.)
- A cheaper hearing aid that does not adequately treat your hearing loss probably isn’t worth the money you paid for it.
Are there any risks 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.
See a hearing specialist either way
For some individuals, OTC hearing aids will be okay, but for others, prescription hearing aids will be appropriate. But either way, making an appointment can help your hearing aids work better.
You will be able to get better treatment when 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 situation.
We can also help you get the most out of your new technology.
If you believe you have hearing loss and want to find out if OTC hearing aids are the right choice for you, schedule an appointment with us today.