Do you remember those gallon buckets of ice cream you used to find at supermarkets? As a kid, they were the best thing ever because they offered a whole gallon of ice cream, that’s a lot of frozen custard and high-fructose corn syrup!
But as you get older, you start to get a bit more particular. Your ice cream preferences become more specialized and you tend to opt for your favorite brand. Those little containers start to become more appealing.
Nevertheless, if you’re hosting a big dinner party, you’re likely to spring for those generic Kemp’s ice cream buckets. Which means that each type of ice cream has its own unique strengths and drawbacks. In some scenarios, you will want to go with the specialized selection, and in others, the generic will be the best choice.
This same mindset also pertains to hearing aids. Are newer over-the-counter hearing aids worthwhile? Well, much like our ice cream example, it depends on what your goals are.
There can be real negative effects from hearing loss
Your day-to-day life can be seriously effected by hearing loss. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can experience social solitude, it’s more difficult to carry on even basic conversations, so you avoid situations where you encounter other individuals who might want to speak with you.
This can make you feel distant 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 as you get older, your cognitive faculties can decline faster.
So it’s not only that you’re unable to hear what your family and friends are saying, but you could also be enhancing your risk of other potentially serious health problems.
How do over-the-counter hearing aids function?
It isn’t difficult to recognize why people would want to go towards hearing aids that can be bought easily, given the health consequences of hearing loss.
Convenience is the very backbone of the appeal of over-the-counter hearing aids. You just go into your local pharmacy and you never need to make an appointment with a hearing specialist. You’re going home right after you get and pay for these devices. They basically amplify all of the sound around you.
Your life can be profoundly and positively impacted by this.
Over-the-counter hearing aids can work in some scenarios
Over-the-counter hearing aids began appearing on store shelves in late 2022 after the Food and Drug Administration made rule changes that allowed for their broader distribution. The rule change focused on getting hearing aids to more people who really need them for their untreated hearing loss.
It’s never been hard to purchase a prescription hearing aid, but it is a process. And sometimes, that process can cause people to stay away. For individuals who aren’t quite ready to make that leap, over-the-counter hearing aids can be a good substitute. But prescription hearing aids were not meant to be replaced by over-the-counter models.
But this means that some of the burden of recognizing when over-the-counter hearing aids are or aren’t the appropriate option lies with the consumer.
How are OTC hearing aids different than prescription hearing aids?
As a general rule, prescription hearing aids are more powerful and have a lot more personalized functions than OTC 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? Well, yes, in certain cases. An OTC hearing aid might work best for you if:
- You have very basic or early-stage hearing loss. These devices are great for really mild or moderate hearing loss.
- You have no intention of getting your hearing test. (Some people never will, even though they definitely should.) Usually, using an OTC hearing aid will be better than using no hearing aid.
- You keep a set on hand just in case your prescription hearing aids need to go in for repair.
- Your hearing specialist is suggesting an OTC. (For optimum outcomes, ask your hearing specialist to address settings and style types that may work best for you.)
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 good for high-frequency hearing loss. (This is why it’s good to understand more about your own hearing loss before you purchase any hearing aid, OTC or not).
When OTC hearing aids are not a good solution
So are there negative aspects to OTC hearing aids? Will you encounter undesirable effects from OTC hearing aids?
Well, let’s just say that OTC hearing aids aren’t a great fit for everybody in every circumstance. OTC hearing will not be the best option for you if:
- When you’re in complex and noisy settings, you need to be able to hear. The majority of prescription hearing aids can be customized depending on what you need to hear and where you need to hear it.
- Is the money you paid really worth it if that OTC hearing aid isn’t effective in treating your hearing loss?
- You have more profound hearing loss. More severe cases of hearing loss will require a more powerful prescription hearing aid while minor cases may do fine with OTC hearing aids.
- You believe OTC hearing aids will save you a ton of money. OTC hearing aids are often nearly as costly as their prescription-only alternative.
- Your hearing aids don’t fit well. In some cases, you might need something with a custom fit, which is only feasible with a prescription hearing aid.
- You don’t know exactly which hearing aid to buy: For some individuals with hearing loss, the wrong hearing aids can actually harm their ears. (It’s like the equivalent of wearing really loud earbuds.)
What are the dangers of over-the-counter hearing aids? You could be wasting good money and further damaging your ears by using OTC hearing aids if they’re not the best solution for your distinct hearing loss.
Either way, you should consult a hearing specialist
OTC hearing aids are suitable for some people and prescription hearing aids are the best choice for others. But either way, scheduling an appointment can help your hearing aids work better.
You will be capable of getting 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 circumstance.
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.
