Over-the-counter hearing aids offer benefits, drawbacks

Oct. 26—SCRANTON — Judy Schappert of Lake Winola has been using hearing aids for five years and feels the personalization of the prescription models make the higher cost worth it.

Schappert, 79, purchased a new set of Phonak premium hearing aids Tuesday at Ross Audiology Services on North Main Avenue for about $5,000. While she recognizes over-the-counter models may be more suitable for some customers, she appreciates the expertise provided by audiologist Serena Marie Ross.

New regulations took effect Oct. 17 that allow consumers to purchase over-the-counter hearing aids at many pharmacies and big box stores for a lower cost.

Traditional hearing aids average between $5,000 to upward of $14,000 a pair, including fitting and follow-up professional services. Under the rule, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, adults with mild to moderate hearing loss can buy hearing aids without a prescription for approximately $600 to $800 a pair, saving millions of Americans thousands of dollars, according to a Washington Post story.

Over the counter aids offer consumers affordable, accessible and technologically sophisticated options for improving hearing, the same story reported. The FDA guidelines also ensure patient safety — including ensuring hearing aids aren't so loud they cause further damage to the ears — and other technical specifications.

"I understand it's going to be a lot cheaper for some people and maybe that's all they can afford, but for me this is the way to go," Schappert said. "If I say to (the audiologist) that I'm having trouble hearing the television or listening to the radio, she knows exactly what I need and will adjust them."

Audiologist James Zeigler of Family Hearing Center in Forty Fort says the new regulations are bringing more attention to hearing aids in general.

"I feel the biggest benefit is everybody is talking about them and the importance of managing hearing difficulty, and not just letting problems linger," he said. "The devices are designed for people with a minimal degree of hearing loss just to keep things safe. If you have a more significant hearing problem, you need devices that have more amplification."

The over-the-counter aids can be helpful for people who only sporadically experience hearing issues, Zeigler said.

"It's not realistic to expect people to pay $5,000 for a $800 problem they experience once or twice a day," he said. "Having options at different price points for different needs is important. There are a range of choices available in the traditional model and that often gets overlooked."

Hearing tests performed by audiologists can identify more serious health issues, he added.

"There are some red flag conditions that signify a more significant problem," Zeigler said. "If someone needs to be addressed by an ear, nose and throat surgeon, we can make the referral and take care of it before they cover up a progressive hearing problem with a hearing device bought over the counter."

Ross also stressed the importance of getting a professional hearing exam before purchasing over-the-counter aids.

"The idea that someone could judge whether their hearing loss was mild, moderate or severe is a fallacy," she said. "Most people who think they have mild hearing loss generally already have moderate hearing loss by the time they come to me."

While certain hearing aids cost thousands of dollars, Ross noted there are different choices for each patient.

"All hearing aid dispensers and audiologists generally have low-cost options," she said. "We can get hearing aids at a lower cost that are upgradeable."

Michele McNamara, director of operations for McNamara Hearing Solutions which has seven locations throughout New York and Pennsylvania, hopes the more affordable models will push more people to buy them, saying about five million Americans wear hearing aids, but 35 million need them."

"The only concern I have about OTC is if somebody has a poor experience because the hearing aids aren't strong enough or too strong, it may steer them away from doing anything in the future," McNamara said.

Contact the writer: rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.