We all enjoy convenience. So it’s easy to realize the appeal of hearing aids that you can get at your local store or pharmacy. No fitting, no waiting, just instant gratification. But this rosy vision of the future might require deeper investigation.
A little care is important because over-the-counter hearing aids may start popping up in stores near you. And that puts a lot of responsibility on consumers like you to understand all of the facts. Those decisions have fairly high stakes; get it wrong and your hearing could suffer. But great responsibility comes with great convenience.
To some degree, an over-the-counter hearing aid has some similarities with other hearing aids. So that they can counteract the effects of hearing loss, these devices are manufactured to amplify sound. In this regard, OTC hearing aids are better than they once were.
But the process of choosing an OTC hearing aid is a bit more complicated than buying a bottle of Tylenol. It should work like this:
In theory, this process will help you pick a hearing device that’s correct for your level of hearing loss and that will function well in all conditions. The real issues can start when you actually visit your local store to try and buy the best device for you.
Theoretically, this most likely all sounds pretty great. Some people might be able to enjoy healthier hearing while cutting costs with OTC hearing aids. But we weren’t kidding around when we said it places a large amount of responsibility on the shoulders of consumers.
When a consumer goes straight from an audiogram to an OTC hearing aid, here’s what they miss out on:
When you come in for some hearing guidance, these are only some of the things we will help you with.
We’re not saying that over-the-counter hearing aids are a bad thing. But when you are selecting your device, you should use some caution, and keeping your hearing specialist in the loop will be a smart way to make certain you’re getting the care you need as well as the technology you want.
1455 W. Court St.
Kankakee, IL 60901
815 939 2024
Mon & Wed: 9am-4:30pm (Staff only)
Tue & Thu: 8:30am-5pm (Doctor sees patients)
Fri: 9am-1pm (Staff only)
Fri: 2pm-5pm (Doctor sees patients)
Closed for lunch 12pm-1pm
29 West 34th St.
Steger, IL 60475
708 756 1767
Mon & Wed: 8:30am-5pm (Doctor sees patients)
Tue & Thu: 9am-4:30pm (Staff only)
Fri: 8:30am-12pm (Doctor sees patients)
Fri: 1pm-4:30pm (Staff only)
Closed for lunch 12pm-1pm