Convenience is something we all enjoy. So if you can go to your local store and buy some hearing aids, it's not hard to understand how this would seem appealing. Instant gratification with no fitting and no waiting. But we may need to investigate this wonderful vision of the future a bit further.

Store bought hearing aids might start appearing in stores around you so a little caution is needed. And in order to know what's what, a lot of the responsibility falls on the buyer. If you don't get it right your hearing could pay the price which makes the stakes for these decisions very high. So, with great convenience comes great responsibility.

Over The Counter Hearing Aids – What Are They?

Over the counter hearing aids, in some ways, have similarities with other types of hearing aids. So that they can counteract the effects of hearing loss, these devices are designed to amplify sound. OTC hearing aids, in doing this, have improved somewhat.

But it's a little more complicated than getting, say, a bottle of aspirin. Here’s how it should work:

  • You need an audiogram which you will get when you have a hearing examination.
  • Your overall hearing health, specifically what frequency you're having a hard time hearing, will be in your audiogram.
  • You would then match your choice of hearing solution to your specific hearing loss. The truth is that some kinds of hearing loss can’t be adequately treated using over-the-counter devices. Even if your particular type of hearing loss can be addressed in this way, you still need to pick one that will work best for your scenario.

In theory, this strategy will help you choose a hearing device that’s right for your level of hearing loss and that will work well in all environments. That doesn’t always mean your local pharmacy will have that device available, however, and close enough isn’t sufficient with regards to your hearing.

The Responsibility Part

This all sounds pretty good, in theory. For some, OTC hearing aids will reduce the costs involved and let more people enjoy healthier hearing. But the amount of responsibility that is put on the consumer is no joke.

Consumers will miss out on the following things if they decide to go from their audiogram to an OTC hearing aid:

  • Adjustments: Your hearing aid can be fine-tuned so it will operate efficiently in several common situations. For instance, we can program settings for loud places like restaurants and settings for quiet spaces. In order to get the most from your hearing aids over time, this fine tuning is crucial.
  • A better selection: We can fit you with one of the many styles of hearing aids that we offer at a variety of price points programmed to your particular hearing needs.
  • A good fit: You can get guidance with fit and style when you go through us. To ensure a custom fit and a maximum comfort a mold of your ear can sometimes be made. Achieving a good fit will help make certain that you are comfortable enough to wear it on a daily basis. Your ability to hear is also affected by fit. You'll be more likely to have feedback if the device is loose in your ear.
  • Advice: Tiny though they are, hearing devices can be complicated to program. How to take care of your hearing aid, how to use it effectively, and how to adjust to your new hearing level, are some of the things we can walk you through.
  • Testing: When you get a fitting for a hearing aid, we will also test it's functionality. You can be certain that your hearing aid is functioning the way it was intended for you because we test it when you're in the office.

These are just a few of the benefits you get when you come see us for advice.

We're not saying that over-the-counter hearing aids are a bad thing. But when you are making your selection, you should use some caution, and in conjunction with getting the technology you want, including your hearing specialist will help you get the care you need.