Hearing Aids Without a Prescription - What Does This Mean?

It did improve his hearing a lot - the 'cheap' online ones he kept buying didn't help his understanding at all. A complete waste of not only money but time. Research has been connecting loss of hearing in older people with dementia for various reasons - one being isolation. He refused to interact even with family as he couldn't hear them.

Last night he fell again - INTO the bath tub. After over an hour of attempting to get out of it with me bringing him pillows, towels, etc., he finally conceded and let me call 911. They had him up and out within minutes.

@julieo4

Hi Julie

I never thought about the size of the instructions and know what you mean...so many interior packaging have tiny print. I know there are regulatory recommendations about what is included in the instructions both inside and outside such as being over 18. The concern is that, for someone who will be trying their first pair of hearing aids and bypassing an audiologist....how do they know the level of their hearing loss. Certainly, someone under 18 would be able to purchase them. What about dexterity....how small are the buttons or switches.
The domes may not be appropriate and a custom mold would be necessary. Apart from an audiological evaluation which should be the first step, your concern about a tcoil is correct.
I foresee many being dissatisfied with them when an audiologist is bypassed.

People generally gravitate towards hearing aids many years after they really need them. I am not being a naysayer on the idea at all...just thinking of things that will come up during and after the purchase. We all agree hearing aids are expensive but price alone can't be the motivator to buy online. I wonder how many audiologists would be willing to prescribe a hearing aid mold or to make an adjustment if purchased online....maybe same some will for a set fee.

It's all so new yet. As @lacy 2 mentioned about eyeglasses....yes you can get frames cheaper elsewhere with a prescription from an ophthalmologist. I did that once from a chain and the
prescription was filled wrong. Found that out when I went back a year later and got new ones from my doctor....I knew something was wrong and thought it was my eyes.

There are pitfalls to everything. But it will be interesting to see if anyone here posts their experiences....sure would love to hear about that.

FL Mary

There may be a difference between OTC hearing aid failure rates based upon those who raised in cold climates vs those raised in warm climates. This is something my AuD taught me. When she examined my ears she said I must have grown up in cold weather, which was correct. I live in FL currently. Apparently our ear canals can adapt when raised in cold climates vs warm climates. Chances are if you were raised in warm climates your ear canals are mostly straight. My ear canal has almost a 90° hook and is far from straight. This helps to protect the inner ear in cold climates and many develop a "bend" after chronic cold weather exposure as a child.
That said, "reciever in ear" silicone cones have not worked well at all for me. They just won't seat or position properly and are quite uncomfortable, even painful. The only solution for "reciever in ear" type hearing aids in my case are "custom molds". I suspect that had I tried OTC hearing aids I would have never learned about my northern type ear anatomy and no OTC hearing aid would have been comfortable or have worked in my case.

"....I wonder how many audiologists would be willing to prescribe a hearing aid mold or to make an adjustment if purchased online...."

They will fit & adjust HA's purchased online. I asked my doctor. For a one time fitting & service it costs $3800 for HA's purchased online.
Buying through the doctor includes a 3 yr warrentee on the device and includes 3 yrs of care, support, & maintenance. Plus she handles ongoing local servicing, as they can fix many issues and she handles any shipping, etc, for manufacturer warrentee claims & repairs. Another bonus is she sends them to the manufacturer right before the warrantee expires for full refurbishing and a full service.

This is interesting. I've never heard or read about an ear canal adaptation due to climate and would like to know more.

Did your audiologist tell you where s/he found that information?

At a recent HLAA meeting presentation by an area audiologist, we were told that she/they would service OTC hearing instruments if the service was something they could actually do with that particular device. However, it's pretty logical to assume there will be a cost associated with that. Most likely a higher cost than would typically be attached to servicing a hearing instrument sold by their practice. There is much remained to be seen with OTC devices.

Your audiologist has a very positive attitude and business model.

I have just joined this group. I have been wearing OTC hearing (amplifiers) devices for two years. At first they seemed ok but they do not work well at all in large room settings with lots of people talking. I can't understand a thing anyone is saying, nor can I understand a speaker who is talking with or without a microphone. I tend to stay away from group settings because of this. My devices came from a propular OTC hearing device manufacturer and sell several different devices ....Mine cost me $600 for the pair, have three volumne controlls and four settings that don't seem to change anything with any given circumstances. I cannot afford aids that cost thousands, like most seniors I'm sure. Any advice on OTC products or has anyone encountered this problem and been able to come up with a solution. Thanks so much for your help.....glad I found this support group.