← Return to Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@billinwttn

Hi! I am in my 70's and feel it is time for hearing aids. I had some hearing loss while on active duty in the late 1960's. It is now at a point where I struggle to hear conversations in some situations. I am wondering if anyone has tried any of the new OTC (over the counter) hearing aids that have been made available this year?

Jump to this post


Replies to "Hi! I am in my 70's and feel it is time for hearing aids. I had..."

If you’re a veteran you may qualify for audiology care at VA. Check with your Veterans Service Officer. They will help you with dealing with VA.

VA dispenses top-of-the-line hearing aids related devices.

The OTC hearing aids are for mild to moderate hearing loss only. You may be past that point already. If you try OTC hearing aids make certain they have a good return policy in case they don’t work out for you.

Before experimenting with OTC hearing aids, I suggest you get your hearing tested by a professional audiologist. That way you'll know how severe your hearing loss is. OTC aids are primarily for mild to moderate hearing loss. However, the term 'moderate' can be a bit confusing. as it leans towards 'severe'. If you're having difficulty in noisy social settings, you will want hearing aids that work in that environment. Success with prescriptive hearing aids has a great deal to do with the skill of the fitter. With OTC you simply fit them yourself. Lots to think about.

Obviously, worth a try if you can purchase a product that can be returned. Be sure to read all the fine print on the box so you know if that's an option. The jury is still out on OTC hearing aids. If you decide to try them, please share your experience with them.