Category: HIA

OTC Hearing Aid Standard

Wayne Staab 2 Comments Amplification / FDA / Hearing / Hearing aid / Hearing aid distribution / Hearing aids / Hearing loss / HIA / IOM-NRC Workshop / NAS / OSHA 1983 / OTC / OTC hearing aid standard / OTC hearing aids / PCAST / PSAP / PSAPs

Both PCAST1 (President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology) and NAS2 (National Academies of Sciences) have recommended that OTC (over-the-counter) hearing aid sales be permitted for mild-to-moderate hearing losses. Additionally, the SB 9 Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2016 introduced by Senators Warren and Grassley calls for the same.  These recommendations resulted from the…

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OTC Self-Fitting of Hearing Aids – Part II

Wayne Staab 1 Comment Amplification / Costco / Crystal Ear / Direct-mail hearing aids / Hearables / Hearing / Hearing aid / Hearing aids / Hearing Help Express / hearing impaired / Hearing professionals / HIA / MarkeTrak V / MarkeTrak VIII / OTC / OTC self-fitting of hearing aids / OTC/PSAP / PSAP / PSAPs

Until recently, hearing aids supposedly weren’t able to be purchased over-the-counter (OTC). Instead, consumers had to have a professional evaluate their hearing loss, set the hearing aid’s performance, and teach proper use.  However, recent OTC sales of hearing aid legislation has opened the door to focus on OTC self-fitting of hearing aids.   Why is…

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