New FDA-approved, over-the-counter hearing aids are slated to hit the market on October 17, to improve access and affordability.
These devices are for people with mild to moderate hearing loss that are 18 years of age and older. Customers will self-fit their hearing aids, which will be available at local stores, pharmacies and big-box retailers.
“This will mean that people will have another avenue to care,” Barbara Kelley, the Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America said.
Despite FDA data showing approximately 30 million Americans would benefit from hearing aids, only about one-fifth of people are actually using devices. Kelley said financial and emotional barriers, can often play a factor.
“We know that people when they find out if they have a hearing loss they often wait five to seven years before they do something, so this could be for somebody who just needs some situational hearing, might not be ready to wear the hearing aids all the time or admit that they need them,” she explained.
Janice Trent, Vice President of Audiology Practice at the American Speech Language Hearing Association, told WGVU she hopes the ease of access will help more people “at least try” hearing aids but notes the importance of seeing an audiologist.
“That is the intent that these are going to be affordable, so the anticipated cost are less that $1000 per pair. We’ll have to see on the 17th what we actually have, but by and large we’re hoping it will be more affordable, which will allow individuals to utilize the amplification,” she said.
In comparison to Trent’s estimated prices, American healthcare company, Good Rx says the average cost of hearing aids can range between $2,000-$7,000.
The FDA said in a prepared statement the over-the-counter rollout is expected to lower the cost of hearings aids, furthering the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of expanding access to high-quality health care and lowering health care costs for the American public.
In 2017, Congress passed bipartisan legislation requiring the FDA to create a category of OTC hearing aids, but it was not fully implemented until now.
