Having access to hearing aids should be something everyone has the ability to access. Hearing is “the process, function, or power of perceiving sound specifically: the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli” (www.Merriam- Webster.com). Many of us take hearing for granted. We go about our daily lives being able to listen to music and have conversations with one another hearing what the other person has to say. Something that comes so naturally to us might not apply to others.
Roughly 1 in 20 people who live in the United States are entirely deaf. Being deaf means one does not have the ability to hear at all. Some people are born deaf, while others become hard of hearing for various reasons. This can include injury, disease, age-related, and repeated exposure to loud noises.
When someone begins to start losing their hearing due to some of the reasons above, they can start experiencing muffling of speech, needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio more than others, and difficulty understanding words and constants. For example, when you are in a crowd or group of people with background noise, you find it hard to hear the person your speaking to.
Over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC) are hearing aids that consumers can buy online or in stores without seeing a healthcare professional. These hearing aids are intended for adults 18 years and older who are experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. Some of the symptoms are listed above. You can also visit the websites listed below to take a look at some of the OTC hearing aids and get in touch with an online team of healthcare professionals to help you.
OTC hearing aids were cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August of 2022 “establishing a class of hearing aids that don’t require a prescription, a medical exam, or a fitting adjustment by an audiologist”(www.forbes.com). They became available in October of 2022, last month.
Having the ability to access OTC hearing aids is a public health priority; making healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone as it should be. Having untreated hearing loss can significantly affect an adult’s quality of life. Leaving hearing loss untreated can lead to “isolation, and it has been associated with serious conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, dementia, reduced mobility, and falls”(www.nidcd.nih.gov).
Resources:
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/over-counter-hearing-aids