Non-Prescription Over the Counter Hearing Aids

I called a couple of the vendors. There’s no option to control your input as in setting for situation. They are simply amplifiers. I have bad tinnitus most days & pretty much deaf in R ear. Still praying for relief Good luck to you.

Background noise is definitely the most frequent complaint by people who have even a mild degree of hearing loss. Those with more severe hearing loss have even more trouble in those environments. Sadly, many of those environments are social settings.

It was mentioned that some of the OTC hearing aids are simple 'amplifiers'. That indicates that all sounds are amplified. That includes the background noise. Many of the more sophisticated hearing aids include noise suppression. Of course, those are the hearing aids that cost several thousand dollars a pair. There is little doubt that people with severe hearing loss; those who test poorly in a professional audiological exam, will find the OTC devices very helpful. Those OTC devices range in cost from under $100 to over $1000.

The best advice I can give is to be sure when you buy...to try in all logical settings...and make sure there is a return policy for the device you are trying. It's very possible that your hearing loss may be better helped with more sophisticated technology.

Very informative. For example I have tried using my iPhone's hearing assist mode and not found it anywhere near as effective as my $300 pair of OTC BTE hearing aids which for my mild senior citizen hearing loss has opened up my world of hearing everything much better even in some noisy background situations. The iPhone acts like Julie's reference to simply amplifying the combined audio and noise background without any noise reduction technology of many true hearing aids. However, my iPhone tests did not take advantage of a remote pick-up microphone near the target audio source and that may be an option if explored further. Of course choosing a hearing aid model that has a "T-Coil" option in the hearing aids is one of the best ways to help eliminate background noise and receive only the magnetic loop broadcast of the audio source if you are in a "looped" environment such as your local church service may have. My next OTC aids will definitely have that option and may be worth the extra cost as more and more facilities install hearing assist loops.

It's important to understand that venues that have installed FM systems or Infrared systems can also be accessed with telecoils. You need a device called a neckloop that can plug in to the receivers for those systems. It's the same type of induction tech that is in a looped room, except that the 'loop' is around your neck. This is such a simple solution to connecting in venues that are meeting the ADA requirements w/o installing a hearing loop system.

It's a real shame that the hearing aid industry from manufacturer to provider at the audiologist level, isn't required to demonstrate how this works when people purchase hearing aids.

@bobweb You obviously have mild hearing loss. What brand of OTC hearing aid are you using?

Evaluating hearing aid performance versus cost presented an overwhelming task to this electrical engineer. For example, I would like to see the actual range of audio frequencies that competing hearing aids can reproduce all plotted together on a frequency response graph showing how far they extend into the higher frequencies many people have lost the ability to hear as verified in their hearing tests. To date I've relied on some reputable industry collaborations of medical and hearing aid manufacturers with my own Over The Counter (OTC) MDHearing aid and Medline's business agreement as one example.
https://newsroom.medline.com/releases/medline-and-mdhearing-partner-to-offer-consumers-over-the-counter-hearing-aids/

Thank you for sharing this information. Your understanding of audio frequencies, etc. is far greater than that of most people. The basic audiogram is confusing to many without a thorough explanation. There will be a great deal of discussion coming to the public on the new OTC hearing aid law. It will be interesting to see how people do with the new devices.

Hearing loss tends to be progressive, so it's quite logical that many who start with OTC devices may have to eventually upgrade to more sophisticated technology. Time will tell. The mere fact that untreated hearing loss, even that of a moderate level, can lead to cognitive decline according to studies from major research bodies, tells us that we need to find solutions that work. There is no one size fits all.

Another very real issue is the reality that hearing loss, especially that of adult onset, can drastically change a person's life and lifestyle. The psychosocial impact of this invisible disability is well documented. While OTC products will same money for many who can benefit from them, the support and counsel provided by a well-trained hearing healthcare specialist is hard to put a price tag on.

I encourage you to join HLAA and become involved in the educational programs that are a part of the organization's mission. Are you familiar with HLAA? http://www.hearingloss.org

This is my opinion. If you do not know where to purchase your new hearing aids a University or hospital with an audiology department is recommended. I was scammed by people selling hearing aids with their large ads that may be interested in selling you their smallest most expensive hearing aids that may not accommodate your hearing loss. You really need a graduate audiologist from an accredited university with a license to help you choose the proper hearing aid for your hearing loss. One that has many brands of hearing aids to choose from for your hearing loss. I feel that OTC hearing aids do not have the programs one needs to accommodate their hearing loss.
Hermine Willey
cohear@aol.com

You bring up good points. It's important for people who need hearing help to know what the different levels of providers are. It varies by state as far as licensure is concerned. The real variance is in the amount of training a provider has. OTC hearing aid sales do not require a license of any kind, nor any training by the seller. Quite possibly, some hearing aid 'sellers' receive a small bit of training, but not a lot. Retail establishments like Best Buy, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc. are selling hearing aids Over the Counter when people ask for them. Soome may employ people who know something about the products, but some do not. In some places a variety of 'hearing aids' are simply displayed on a rack for purchase. Pick one and pay for it.

In the real world of professional audiology, we have hearing aid fitters with doctorate level degrees who test for hearing loss, base a fitting on the test results and counsel their clientele. Those people have AuD behind their names, and are considered doctors of audiology. They have had education beyond a master's degree.

There are also fitters referred to has hearing instrument specialists. HIS behind their name. They may or may not have college degrees. They do have training, which depends on where they are working. Some of those clinicians may have bachelor's or master's degrees, but many don't. Some, such as those who work in 'big box' stores like Costco receive training from AuD audiologists who work for Costco. It's rather like an apprenticeship.

Most states require these clinician/fitters to have a state license. In my state (Wisconsin) the test they take to become licensed is the same regardless of the education the test taker has. They pass the test, they get the license. Some set up private practices, while others work for known brand businesses.

It is up to individuals to decide how to proceed. It's not all that different from selecting a primary care specialist or a dentist. If it's important to you, you probably want someone who is well qualified.

A few specific issues have been barriers for many seeking hearing help. One is the extremely high cost of hearing aids; another is the fact that they are generally not insured and are not covered by Medicare. Another is the reality that there are no providers of any kind in many rural or poverty level areas. Consequently, many populations are unable to get tested or fitted. Buying a hearing aid 'off the rack' over the counter gives them an opportunity to try technology.

Keep in mind that over the counter hearing aids are only recommended for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. By the time most people give in and seek hearing help they are way past the mild level and often past moderate as well. If they are missing things, having trouble in social settings, complaining that everyone mumbles, etc., it's likely they will need a quality fitting rather than an off the rack hearing aid.

As stated, several times. Be sure that the product you buy can be returned for a refund if it doesn't help you.

Hi, Am 86 years old.
I’m on my third set of behind the ear set, the first set was Oticon best $ 6,000 work for a while.
The second and best are from Costco Rexton, model ( m core li ric.). I Wanted to buy a second pair as a standby, was told by Costco tech they are not made anymore since Philips took over the company.
SoI was fitted, as recommended by the technician a Philips set with, a turn of rear microphone to better hear in front speech, this does have some value. However am returning due to what I think is a poor technical sound fitting and ear fit. Am going to a different Costco for additional possibilities, hoping to improve my options for the better. I like Costco.

(Liked.) Keep us informed. My friend recommended Phonak. I ha e appointments at Costco and a private Audiologist. I don't know the brands they will offer.