Over-the-counter hearing aids are now available. Here's what you need to know.

If you struggle with mild to moderate hearing loss, you can now buy less expensive, over-the-counter hearing aids without a doctor's exam or prescription.

A new Food and Drug Administration rule allows retail sales of hearing aids beginning Monday for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Regulators said the new rule should give millions of adults less expensive options and broaden access for those who can't afford hearing aids.

A federal report estimated 28.8 million people could benefit from a hearing aid, but only about 1 in 5 people with hearing loss use a hearing aid. Aging, exposure to loud noises, medical conditions and other factors contribute to hearing loss. Hearing aids can help make speech and sounds louder and allow people to better communicate.

Major retailers such as Walgreens, CVS and Best Buy plan to sell hearing aids, which should give consumers plenty of options on which brands and models to choose.

BACKGROUND: FDA allows over-the-counter sales of hearing aids

MORE: What people with hearing aids wish you knew: 'Our struggles don't discount us'

How much can consumers expect to save?

Some hearing aids cost more than $5,000 between the price of the device and a professional fitting. Medicare covers a diagnostic test but does not pay for the device. With the new rule, officials estimate the new class of devices would save consumers thousands of dollars for a pair of hearing aids.

Still, experts warn consumers should research the different brands and exercise caution when choosing a hearing aid. People should ask about a retailer's return policy and hearing aid manufacturer's warranty before purchasing a device, said Kate Carr, president of Hearing Industries Association, a group that includes hearing aid manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and hearing health professionals.

"The the biggest worry is they don't work for me, can I return them?" Carr said.

Where will retail hearing aids be sold?

Walgreens: The chain pharmacy and Lexie Hearing announced that Walgreens will begin selling hearing aids at stores nationwide and online for $799 per pair.

CVS: Retail hearing aids will be available on CVS.com with prices on varying brands and models from about $200 to $999. The devices are not available in stores yet, but some CVS pharmacy locations will being selling the devices in November.

Best Buy: As of Monday morning, the store has more than a dozen models listed on its website and some locations at various prices. The consumer electronics retailer will begin carrying the devices at more stores this month.

Hy-Vee: Hearing aids will be sold online and in stores in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The retailer will expand the number of stores carrying the devices later this year.

Who can buy these devices?

Millions of Americans suffer from mild to moderate hearing loss. However, over-the-counter devices are not meant for people with more severe types of hearing loss or children.

People with mild hearing loss can hear some speech but have difficulty hearing soft sounds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A person with moderate hearing loss may not hear a person who talks at a normal level.

Older adults are more likely to have hearing loss. Nearly 1 in 4 of adults aged 65 to 74 and 1 in 2 of those 75 and older have disabling hearing loss, according to federal estimates.

People should seek medical care if they have more complex hearing loss or symptoms such as discomfort or bleeding, officials said.

Get a hearing test, expert says

Carr recommends people get a hearing test before making a purchase. Although traditional Medicare does not cover hearing tests for the purpose of buying a hearing aid, most private Medicare Advantage plans include benefits that cover tests for hearing loss, Carr said.

She said a test administered by a hearing professional is ideal for accurate results. If people can't afford or choose not to visit a hearing professional, Carr recommends they take an online hearing test. But she cautioned results can depend on the sound quality of a phone, device or headset a person is using.

"Not all hearing tests are created equal," she said. "Your ability to hear sounds that are very soft to louder is really a function of the environment that you're in."

What types of hearing aids will be available?

The FDA rule is for "air-conduction" hearing aids fitted behind or inside the ear.

The rule requires retail hearing aids to have lower maximum sound and user-adjustable volume controls. The new rule also limits how deep the device can be placed in the ear canal. Manufacturers must meet performance and device design specification to sell the retail devices.

Ken Alltucker is on Twitter as @kalltucker or can be emailed at alltuck@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hearing aids now sold over the counter at CVS, Walgreens, Best Buy