What if you could stop into your favorite major retailer while running errands and pick up hearing aids for someone you love, at a reasonable cost? Wouldn’t you love the ease and convenience of opening up a world of better hearing in a matter of minutes? This is now a reality, bringing relief to many who have put off getting help for their hearing loss because of cost and other constraints involved with prescription hearing aids.
Of course, you’ll want to find answers to some common questions about the new OTC hearing aids before making your purchase, such as:
What kind of hearing loss will OTC hearing aids help with?
OTC hearing aids are best suited for those with moderate or mild hearing loss. This includes tens of millions of people in America. To best determine if they’re right for someone you love, answer these questions: Is it easy for you to hear when one person is speaking to you in a quiet location? Can you hear the TV or someone on the phone better if you turn the volume up just slightly? Would hearing aids be necessary just in particular circumstances, rather than all the time? An answer of “yes” to these questions means OTC hearing aids may be appropriate.
How much do they cost?
Here’s the best part: the price tag for OTC hearing aids starts as low as $199. Prescription aids, which are NOT covered by most insurance plans or Medicare, can run as high as $8,000 or more.
What is an audiologist – and is it necessary to see one first?
Audiologists are specialists in hearing and balance disorders who can diagnose and treat these conditions. This includes a full review of an individual’s medical history, an examination of the outer ear, and a series of audiological tests. They will then make recommendations based on the results of an overall review of these factors.
Technically, an audiology visit isn’t needed to simply purchase hearing aids over the counter. However, there are some important benefits to making an appointment with an audiologist, even if you plan to use OTC hearing aids.
An audiologist performs an in-depth assessment, including a thorough hearing test to determine where the hearing loss originates (i.e., in the inner or middle ear), if you’re experiencing hearing loss more in one ear over the other, and real-ear measurement (REM) to determine the appropriate volume for your particular type of hearing loss. This information can be incredibly valuable in getting to the root cause of your problem and effectively correcting it.
With these details in hand, the audiologist can then help you review the pros and cons of treatment recommendations, which could be OTC hearing aids, but may also include prescription aids or cochlear implants. They can also provide help with both fitting and adjusting hearing aids – a process that takes time, as the brain adjusts to hearing and processing sounds differently.
Although prescription hearing aids are typically not covered by Medicare and most insurance providers, hearing assessments and visits with the audiologist typically are – so it’s well worth the investment of a little time to gain the professional expertise that will help ensure you’re obtaining the best solution for your particular type of hearing loss – and, determining if there are any underlying conditions contributing to your hearing loss that need to be addressed in a different way.
Research shows that only one in four people in America experiencing hearing loss are actually using a hearing aid. Having OTC hearing aids readily available at a reduced cost is a life-changer.
The referred care providers at American, Advocate and Whitsyms In-Home Care are here to help older adults with hearing loss as well, with customized Florida home care services. A referred care provider can run errands (including picking up hearing aids), provide transportation to the audiologist, other medical appointments, and fun outings, and so much more.
To learn more about the Florida home care services offered by trusted referred care providers at American, Advocate or Whitsyms In-Home Care, contact the office closest to you.
- American In-Home Care – Serving North, Central, and West Coast of Florida
- Advocate In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida
- Whitsyms In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida
State of Florida License and Registration Numbers: 30211518, 30211651, 30211295, 30211390, 30210978, 30211293, 30211382, 30211504, 30211733, 30211535, 30211531, 30211710, 30211709, 30211045, 5661
