The Problem With Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid options are becoming increasingly common, both online and in shops. These gadgets are intended to make it easier to seek assistance for hearing loss. They also make hearing aids as affordable as possible.

Because of the high volume of patient complaints, several states are even issuing warnings. Some of these problems are addressed below. If you have already purchased, or are considering purchasing, over-the-counter hearing aids, these disadvantages might help you change your mind and seek professional assistance from a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) instead.

Not All Hearing Loss Is the Same

Most individuals believe that hearing loss is just a reduction in the level of sounds they can hear. However, genuine hearing loss is more akin to tinkering with the settings on a high-end stereo. This happens because hearing loss affects distinct wavelengths and frequencies. As a result, if your hearing aid is not correctly calibrated & programmed, you may be causing more harm to your hearing than any loss you might be thinking of trying to solve.

The specific frequencies enhanced by the OTC hearing aid are generally stated on the packaging. If you’ve recently had an audiogram, you might be able to work out which hearing aid to buy on your own, but it’s highly likely that you could make a mistake and that’s not a good thing when it comes to any aspect of your health, including your hearing. When your hearing loss is very sophisticated, over-the-counter hearing aids may not give the level of customization you need.

This is why it’s a much better option to visit a hearing instrument specialist instead of trying to work it out for yourself. When you make an appointment to discuss your hearing loss and what kind of hearing aid you might need, you will be given expert advice; you won’t have to make any guesses and you won’t run the risk of making your hearing loss worse.

Proper Setup

Over-the-counter hearing aids are made solely for convenience. Just like the reading glasses you can buy off the rack in any pharmacy, OTC hearing aids are made in a generalized way, not to any specific requirements. As we’ve said above, you can choose something that might work well for you, but there is always a chance it might not work. However, this is not the only problem; the other issue is setup and calibration.

When you visit a HIS, they will be able to calibrate your hearing aid to your exact requirements, ensuring that, through in-depth knowledge and by asking the right questions, your hearing is as good as it can possibly be. They will also help you to get to grips with your hearing aid, teaching you how to look after it, how to clean it, how to change the settings should you need to and to notice when something is wrong, and you need some additional help to fix the issues. You won’t get any of this extra help and support when you buy an over-the-counter hearing aid, and the time you spend trying to make it work would be better off spent with a HIS learning how to take care of your personalized hearing aid.

Additional Cost

However, the fact is that, because these hearing aids are made with lower quality components, they are much more likely to go wrong. This could mean that, rather than the one good hearing aid you would purchase from a HIS, you would end up buying several lower-quality OTC versions. In the end, the cost will be either the same or perhaps even higher than the hearing aid you would have bought if you had made an appointment to see an expert.

Plus, if you’re not spending a lot on your hearing aid, it’s easy to be a little more careless with it than with something you spent a little more on. The more money you spend on something, the more precious it will be and the more careful you will be.

If any of the above sounds interesting, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with New Hartford Hearing Center at 315-801-2991. We can give you all the advice you need about the right hearing aid for you.