Local 12: New breakthrough makes it easier to buy hearing aids
UC expert says some people should still see an audiologist
A newly enacted FDA rule makes it possible to buy a hearing aid over the counter or online, without having to get a prescription or seeing a doctor. WKRC-TV, Local 12 interviewed some experts in covering the story, including Brian Earl, PhD, of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the UC College of Allied Health Sciences.
Local 12 reported the over-the-counter hearing aids are for people 18 and older dealing with mild to moderate hearing loss. If speech sounds muffled, or it's hard to hear in noisy areas, this could be for you.
Brian Earl, PhD, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Allied Health Sciences/Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Marketing + Brand
"The conversational 'oops' or misunderstanding can be avoided if those subtle sounds can be amplified by a device,” said Earl.
He says while OTC hearing aids will allow people to deal with hearing loss on their own terms, it doesn't replace getting a hearing test if you're having problems.
"There are some conditions that need to be assessed a little bit more in depth as an audiologist. We would look for any conditions or impact hearing that could be medically treated,” said Earl.
Local 12 reported that the over-the-counter hearing aids start at $199 and go up to about $1,000 and are available online at national retailers such as Walmart and CVS.
Lead photo/Unsplash
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