With more studies showing that loss of hearing can lead to cognitive decline, it is vital to remedy hearing loss as quickly and effectively as possible. Traditional FDA-regulated hearing aids have previously only been available by prescription. That may be about to change. Over-the-counter hearing aids may soon be hitting the market.
Prescription hearing aids range in price but cost at least $1000 and go up from there to over $10,000. Most insurance plans only pay a portion of the cost. Medicare does not cover hearing aid costs at all. Many suffering from hearing loss have to purchase new devices every few years. This can make procuring the needed hearing aid devices difficult due to financial constraints. The over-the-counter options will be much lower priced and can be purchased without a medical exam or fitting session.
Traditionally, a patient in need of hearing aids would need to tested by a licensed hearing professional and receive a prescription from an audiologist. The person would need a fitting session to ensure the prescription included the correct size. Patients follow up with audiologists to recheck the ears and the compatibility of the device at least annually.
Currently, those suffering from hearing loss are able to purchase hearing-augmentative devices or personal sound amplification products, but these are not the same quality as an FDA defined hearing aid, currently only available by prescription. The devices on the market now are only limited to 20dB of gain and do not filter specific frequencies. In contrast, a hearing aid is much louder, has more targeted frequencies and meets federal safety standards.
More and more seniors may be walking around with Apple Airpod Pros in their ears as well and you think they are simply listening to their favorite song or podcast. In actuality, they have turned down the noise cancellation feature and are using these Apple devices to amplify the sound around them. While this trick may help a little, there are better ways to solve hearing issues.
The FDA formally proposed rules to establish a new over-the-counter hearing aid category in October 2021. An open comments period followed until January 2022, giving a platform to those involved in treating patients or manufacturing these devices to weigh in and comment. Sales of these over-the-counter hearing aids are now expected to begin by the end of 2022.
Helping your senior loved one prevent hearing loss or finding a device that corrects the issue once it has already onset is critically important for many reasons – staving off cognitive decline, preventing accidents and ensuring proper communication to avoid isolation and loneliness. Depending on the nature and severity, it may require a visit to a hearing professional. Knowing that these over-the-counter but safe and more affordable options are on the horizon is very encouraging.
For more information on caregiving for your elderly loved or to learn more about elder law services such as estate planning and long-term care planning contact the attorneys at Stouffer Legal in the Greater Baltimore area. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 470-3599 or emailing us at office@stoufferlegal.com.
