Medicine & healthcare

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Now Available in US

OCT 18 2022·Updated OCT 19 2022

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Image credit: scientificamerican

The Facts

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made hearing aids available over-the-counter (OTC), a change that makes the devices available to tens of millions of adults with mild to moderate hearing loss without a prescription and at lower prices.
CBS News
The move comes as a result of Biden’s "Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy," issued over the summer. Already devices are becoming available at retailers for as low as $199, compared to thousands of dollars in the past.
TechCrunch
With the hearing aid market previously dominated by five companies, Sec. of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, said, "This rule is expected to help us achieve quality, affordable health care access for millions of Americans in need.”
Daily Mail
Biden’s executive order came five years after Congress responded to decades of consumer complaints about the cost of hearing aids, ordering the FDA to set rules for eventual OTC sales. The FDA’s action on this was delayed by the pandemic.
Scientific American
With millions of Americans estimated to suffer from some form of hearing loss, adults who believe they have mild to moderate hearing impairment can now skip doctor visits. They can buy hearing aids at stores including Walmart and other retail outlets.
NPR

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The Spin

Democratic narrative

This move is a game-changer and Biden’s executive order is what pushed it over the finish line. Now, 90% of Americans with hearing loss can get affordable, accessible hearing health care and the hearing aid industry can become more competitive and innovative. Americans with hearing aids will also improve their physical and mental health.

CNN

Republican narrative

While this ruling will help millions of hard-of-hearing Americans, there's still some medical risk to buying a hearing device without consulting a professional. Biden’s executive order and this ruling also don't put a dent in inflation, so it would be nice if he found a way to lower the prices of everything else, too.