Because traditional hearing aids are so expensive, over-the-counter hearing aids have become an attractive option. Over-the-counter hearing aids cost significantly less than traditional hearing aids.
Over-the-counter hearing aids are often much more convenient then traditional hearing aids since over-the-counter hearing aids do not require an appointment with the hearing professional or audiologist. Also, the over-the-counter hearing aid is available for the consumer at the time of purchase while a consumer may have to wait a considerable amount time for a hearing aid ordered through an audiologist.
Over-the-counter hearing aids do not help all levels of hearing impairment. They are designed to be of benefit to people with mild to moderate hearing loss. People with severe hearing loss need to purchase traditional hearing aids.
Hearing loss can be a symptom of a medical condition that requires treatment. If a person purchases a hearing aid without seeing it physician, the person may be risking their health by not having proper diagnosis and treatment if a medical condition caused the hearing loss.
Sometimes hearing loss can be medically corrected and therefore a hearing aid is not necessary. Conductive hearing loss due to impacted earwax could be corrected within the doctor’s office which would eliminate the need for a hearing aid.
Another disadvantage to over-the-counter hearing aids is the lack of advanced features that traditional hearing aids have. One concern expressed by a hearing professionals is the lack of directional microphones available in proposed over-the-counter hearing. A lack of directional microphones limits the effectiveness of the hearing aid.
Consumers who would use the over-the-counter hearing aids would not have the benefit of an audiologist to customize settings of the hearing aid to match their needs. Since over-the-counter hearing it cannot be customized, some hearing aid users are not that I receive the full benefit of hearing aids with the use of these one-size-fits-all hearing aids.
Many hearing experts and hearing professionals are concerned about the percentage of people who need hearing aids but do not purchase them because of the price. Over-the-counter hearing aids may encourage more people to use the hearing aids that they need. Another solution to the high cost of traditional hearing aids for some people is to seek assistance from government agencies and organizations to help people with the purchase price and costs of getting traditional hearing aids.
