Do You Know The OTC Hearing Aid ?
Over-the-counter OTC hearing aids are self-fit hearing aids designed for adults 18+ who have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears. If you have a tight budget and a mild hearing loss, then OTC hearing aids may be a good fit for you.
Hearing Aid
As we all know, the hearing aid is a device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss. And the hearing aids are classified as medical devices in most countries, and regulated by the respective regulations. Small audio amplifiers such as personal sound amplification products or other plain sound reinforcing systems cannot be sold as "hearing aids".
However, as of August 2022, the FDA issued a final rule that establishes a new service delivery model and category of hearing aids. These are over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
What is the OTC Hearing Aids?
The OTC Hearing aids are short for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid that is one you can buy online from hearing aid store and fit yourself, without having to see an audiologist or hearing health professional. These types of hearing aids devices are often less expensive than professionally fitted programmable hearing aids which are currently only available from hearing health professionals, such as audiologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), and hearing aid specialists or offline hearing aid center or store, and they can be perfect nice for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
OTC Hearing Aid Rules
On the August 16 of 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its final rule establishing a regulatory category for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Access to OTC hearing aids is intended to increase the availability and affordability for adults aged 18 and over with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Companies may begin selling these devices as early as mid-October.
In order to help more people to have hearing aid products for improving their hearing loss problem, the legislation was passed in 2017 requiring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop otc hearing aid rules for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids instrument and market. The intent of the legislation was to offer adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss the opportunity to purchase the otc hearing aid device on their own at a lower cost.
Hearing aids are devices designed to improve your hearing by making sound audible. Hearing aids are a great solution for those with hearing loss, tinnitus, or another hearing disorder. As of August 2022, the FDA issued a final rule that establishes a new service delivery model and category of hearing aids. These are over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
Over-the-counter OTC hearing aids are self-fit hearing aids designed for adults aged 18 and over who have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears. If you have a tight budget and a mild hearing loss, then OTC hearing aids may be a good fit for you.
According to the OTC hearing aid FDA rules, the OTC hearing aids will be available in mid-October 2022.