Remember when you used to be able to find those gallon buckets of ice cream at the grocery store? An entire gallon of ice cream, yum!
But as you grow up, you start to get a bit more particular. Your ice cream tastes get more specialized and you tend to opt for your favorite brand. Suddenly, those littler containers are the ones that are enticing.
But you will probably still go for that big bucket if you’re having a big dinner party. Which means that each kind of ice cream has its own unique strengths and drawbacks. Generic is good in certain situations, but you might want more specific ice cream in other circumstances.
This same attitude also applies to hearing aids. Are newer over-the-counter hearing aids worthwhile? Well, much like our ice cream example, it depends on what your goals are.
There can be real detrimental effects from hearing loss
Hearing loss can have a considerable impact on your day-to-day activities. When you have untreated hearing loss, you can encounter social solitude, it’s harder to carry on even simple conversations, so you avoid situations where you encounter other individuals who may want to speak with you.
This can cause you to feel removed from your friends and family. You even steer clear of the cashier at the supermarket. It isn’t a happy way to live. And as you age, your mental faculties can decline faster.
So it isn’t simply that you can’t hear what your friends and family are saying, but you could also be increasing your chances of other potentially serious health issues.
Over-the-counter hearing aids – how they function
It isn’t difficult to recognize why individuals would want to move towards hearing aids that can be obtained easily, given the health repercussions of hearing loss.
Convenience is the very nature of the appeal of over-the-counter hearing aids. Instead of going to see a hearing specialist and getting fitted for hearing aids, you just go into your local pharmacy. You grab a pair of these devices, pay for them, and head home. Once they’re in your ears, they function to amplify the sound around you.
This can have a profoundly positive affect on your life.
In some situations over-the-counter hearing aids can do the job
In 2022 the Food and Drug Administration changed some rules about the sale of hearing aids that allowed stores like pharmacies to sell them. The rule change focused on getting hearing aids to more individuals who really need them for their neglected hearing loss.
It’s never been hard to obtain a prescription hearing aid, but it is a process. And sometimes, that process can keep people away. For people who aren’t quite ready to take the step, over-the-counter hearing aids may be a good option. But prescription hearing aids were never meant to be replaced by over-the-counter models.
Sadly, this means that individuals now bear some of the burden of determining when OTC hearing aids are a good choice (and when they aren’t).
What’s the essential difference between over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids?
As a general rule, prescription hearing aids are more powerful and have a lot more customizable features than OTC hearing aids. They won’t be personalized to your distinct needs and they won’t fit as well.
So, are over-the-counter hearing aids worthwhile at all? There actually can be some benefits to an OTC in certain circumstances. OTC hearing aids might be the best option if:
- Your hearing loss is in the early phases and is very simple. These devices are good for really mild or moderate hearing loss.
- You’ve consulted your hearing specialist, and they recommend using an OTC hearing aid. (For optimum outcomes, ask your hearing specialist to address settings and style types that may work best for you.)
- You want a spare pair to use for emergencies.
- You have no intention of getting your hearing assessed. (Some people never will, even though they definitely should.) Generally speaking, using an OTC hearing aid will be better than using nothing.
It’s fairly common for OTC presets to be pre-programmed when you get them. If your hearing loss is in the lower wavelengths, some models will be the right choice and if you have high-frequency hearing loss other designs will be the best option. (This is why it’s good to know more about your own hearing loss before you purchase any hearing aid, OTC or not).
When OTC hearing aids aren’t a practical solution
So, what are the disadvantages of over-the-counter hearing aids? Are there adverse side effects of over-the-counter hearing aids?
Well, let’s just say that OTC hearing aids aren’t a great fit for everyone in every situation. OTC hearing won’t be the ideal option for you if:
- Is the money you spent really worth it if that OTC hearing aid isn’t effective in treating your hearing loss?
- OTC hearing aids aren’t custom fit the way you might need them to be. A custom fit is frequently necessary for some individuals and OTC hearing aids don’t allow for this.
- You have more profound hearing loss. More severe cases of hearing loss will call for a more powerful prescription hearing aid while minor cases may do fine with OTC hearing aids.
- You need to hear in complex or noisy settings. Depending on what settings you need to hear in and exactly what you’re listening to, prescription hearing aids can be personalized for those situations.
- Exactly which hearing aid to get is still unknown to you: The wrong hearing aids can actually make your hearing worse for someone who has hearing loss. (It’s not much different than if you turn your earbuds up to a really loud setting.)
- You’re only thinking about OTC hearing aids because of perceived cost savings. OTC hearing aids are frequently almost as costly as their prescription-only alternative.
Are there any dangers that come with OTC hearing aids? You could be wasting good money and further damaging your ears by using OTC hearing aids if they’re not the best solution for your distinct hearing loss.
See a hearing specialist either way
OTC hearing aids are suitable for some people and prescription hearing aids are the best choice for others. But either way, scheduling an appointment can help your hearing aids work better.
That’s because learning more about your hearing loss will help you find a better treatment. We can help guide you toward the best hearing aid for your symptoms, whether it’s OTC or prescription.
We can also help you get the most out of your new technology.
Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you determine what hearing aid type is right for you.