If you've recently been diagnosed with hearing loss, you may consider using hearing aids as a treatment option. When purchasing hearing aids, it's important not to rely solely on advertisements and promises of "cheap" and "easy" solutions. Especially in recent years, with the emergence of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. What role do audiologists play in this process? This article will outline how to choose the right hearing aids for you and the importance of hearing healthcare professionals.
Continue reading to find the answers to all of Hearing Professionals For OTC Hearing Aids questions, including:
How will over the counter hearing aids affect audiologists?
Can OTC hearing aids be programmed?
What is the best over the counter hearing aids?
Who are candidates for OTC hearing aids?
Is it better to go to an audiologist for hearing aids?
Do audiologists sell OTC hearing aids?
Treating hearing loss isn't a one-time event. For instance, purchasing hearing aids and wearing them isn't the end of the story. To illustrate this point, let's take a closer look at what happens when you have hearing aids prescribed by an audiologist or not.
Test and check
A hearing test and ear examination will be conducted by a hearing healthcare professional to determine the extent of your hearing loss and provide appropriate recommendations.
Different treatment options
There are various treatment options for hearing loss, ranging from over-the-counter hearing aids to cochlear implants. Audiologists can help you understand the pros and cons of each option. And make the best choice that fits your needs.
Support
Hearing aids require fitting processes. For many individuals, hearing loss may worsen over time. Hearing healthcare professionals are trained to provide amplification tailored to your hearing loss, taking into account your comfort.
Personalized care
One of the benefits of seeing an audiologist is their ability to provide personalized care. They will understand you and your unique needs to provide the best care possible.
Technical assistance
Your hearing healthcare professional can offer the best size and fit options for custom ear molds or other fixed options to help secure your hearing aids comfortably. They also assist you in connecting the hearing aids to smartphone applications and recommend other helpful devices, such as assistive listening devices.
Now that you understand how audiologists fit hearing aids, let's take a closer look at what Over-The-Counter (OTC) hearing aids entail.
Purchasing and Testing Online
You can buy hearing aids at pharmacies, stores, and online without needing a medical examination or special fitting by an audiologist, such as ELEHEAR. You can directly take an online hearing test on our website.
Self-Adjustment
You can adjust the settings yourself using software programs or smartphone applications. ELEHEAR has developed an app specifically for its products to better meet user needs. If you still have hearing problems after using the device's built-in settings, you can seek help from an ELEHEAR online audiologist to install over-the-counter hearing aids. Barbara Kelley, Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, predicts that with the advent of OTC hearing aids, more audiologists will provide this service. The FDA's new regulations take into account the significant benefits of using hearing aids for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss, and increasing evidence suggests that some patients may benefit from them without professional fitting. However, users with hearing loss who lack professional guidance may experience certain limitations.
To address this deficiency, ELEHEAR provides professional audiologists for all customers who purchase ELEHEAR hearing aids, available online to answer users' questions anytime, anywhere.
The FDA's decision has established regulations to provide effective hearing devices to individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. The introduction of OTC hearing aids to the market is an important step in increasing patients' autonomy in using hearing aids. However, due to variations in the level of support provided by these devices, utilizing existing hearing care of professionals may help bridge the gap between patients who can self-adjust and those who may need more assistance.
To optimize the utilization of hearing aids, particularly by consulting with an audiologist for optimal comfort and performance, is essential. This step ensures that individuals receive tailored assistance and adjustments to enhance their overall experience with hearing aids. At ELEHEAR, we prioritize your satisfaction and offer personalized support to ensure you get the most out of your hearing devices.