FDA moves to make over-the-counter hearing aids available to millions

[sun rise]

This story is beyond left/right politics given who was involved at various stages. It's good news for free enterprise and for people by breaking an audiologist monopoly that ensured ruinous prices for many. Obama proposed it, Trump signed it into law and Biden pushed to make it happen

FDA moves to make over-the-counter hearing aids available to millions

The new regulations will create a new category of hearing aids that supersede state-level regulations requiring patients to visit physicians or audiologists to get prescriptions and fittings. The devices will be available for individuals 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss at pharmacies, stores and online.

 

[Revoltingest]

Sometimes a hearing aid isn't needed.
Just clean out the wax.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Can't say I'm not piqued. It's hard to hear typed words sometimes!

 

[sun rise]

Beans in my ears

You can't hear the teacher with beans in your ears,
Beans in your ears, beans in your ears
You can't hear the teacher with beans in your ears,
Beans in your ears
...
I think that all grown ups have beans in their ears
Beans in their ears, beans in their ears
I think that all grown ups have beans in their ears
Beans in their ears

 

[Kenny]

Sometimes a hearing aid isn't needed.
Just clean out the wax.

Reminds me of when my wife was really struggling with her left ear. Sometimes she said it felt like it was getting better and then not at all...

So we went to the ear doctor:

It's an ANIMAL I tell you!!!!

But, WOW, she really understood the difference in what clean hearing means... (pardon the pun)

 

[Revoltingest]

Reminds me of when my wife was really struggling with her left ear. Sometimes she said it felt like it was getting better and then not at all...

So we went to the ear doctor:

View attachment 65494

It's an ANIMAL I tell you!!!!

But, WOW, she really understood the difference in what clean hearing means... (pardon the pun)

Looks like a Centaurian Slug.
Do you find that she's harder to control now that it's removed.
(Those things usually attach to the brain stem...not ear canal.)

 

[ChristineM]

Sometimes a hearing aid isn't needed.
Just clean out the wax.

Or a steam cleaning

 

[Shadow Wolf]

But, WOW, she really understood the difference in what clean hearing means... (pardon the pun)

But it made me giggle, lol.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Or a steam cleaning
View attachment 65496

I still use a cotton swab. It works good enough (for me, apparently, as I've never had problems from it), and it feels great, really good, and sometimes I just like spinning them amd going in and out ofmy ear canal after the wax has lubed them some.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

This story is beyond left/right politics given who was involved at various stages. It's good news for free enterprise and for people by breaking an audiologist monopoly that ensured ruinous prices for many. Obama proposed it, Trump signed it into law and Biden pushed to make it happen

FDA moves to make over-the-counter hearing aids available to millions

The new regulations will create a new category of hearing aids that supersede state-level regulations requiring patients to visit physicians or audiologists to get prescriptions and fittings. The devices will be available for individuals 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss at pharmacies, stores and online.

That is interesting. I always just assumed that's what the hearing amplifier thingies are for that you see advertised on TV.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I like the idea that it creates competition and breaks up the monopoly and significantly reduces the horrendous price gouging at a patients expense.

 

[Revoltingest]

I like the idea that it creates competition and breaks up the monopoly and significantly reduces the horrendous price gouging at a patients expense.

Was there a monopoly?
It appeared to be excessive government
regulation that caused the high cost.

 

[ChristineM]

I still use a cotton swab. It works good enough (for me, apparently, as I've never had problems from it), and it feels great, really good, and sometimes I just like spinning them amd going in and out ofmy ear canal after the wax has lubed them some.

I use cotton buds too. Never had a wax problem.

 

[Revoltingest]

That is interesting. I always just assumed that's what the hearing amplifier thingies are for that you see advertised on TV.

One view....
Prescription Hearing Aids vs. OTC Hearing Aids | South Shore Hearing Center

 

[Shadow Wolf]

One view....
Prescription Hearing Aids vs. OTC Hearing Aids | South Shore Hearing Center

Sounds more like someone is upset they'll be losing out on money as people turn to more sensible and affordable options
America is just stupid about stuff like this. Like how you can get birth control OTC in many countries. And it gives a poor example of buying glasses at the store because those glasses, while not custom made do have the same basic lens strengths as prescription glasses. Not as good, no, but still good enough and far more affordable.

 

[Revoltingest]

Sounds more like someone is upset they'll be losing out on money as people turn to more sensible and affordable options.

I read many links before picking one.
This explanation makes sense.

Let some experiment on their own.
It'll work well for some, poorly for others.
But if I ever need one, I'm going to an audiologist.
I like the choice being available.

 

[SkepticThinker]

Good! Those things are ridiculously expensive.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I read many links before picking one.
This explanation makes sense.

Let some experiment on their own.
It'll work well for some, poorly for others.
But if I ever need one, I'm going to an audiologist.
I like the choice being available.

You should be able to go to one, but you shouldn't have to go to one to get a hearing aid. As it's been its really nothing more than for-profit medicine needlessly digging its claws in to bulk up and protect its profits at the expense of everyone's care.
But now, it reminds me when I think it was Bush Jr. made it so optometrists had to give us our prescription so we could go elsewhere for contact lenses.

 

[pearl]

But how would they be tested for individual needs? The Pharmacist?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Was there a monopoly?
It appeared to be excessive government
regulation that caused the high cost.

Well, close enough to a monopoly. All it takes is two Mega corporations to fit the bill for proper 'competition'.

Still results in poor quality and exorbitant price gouging in the thousands for something that probably costs, I'm guessing, only 5 bucks to make.