As July of this year, over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC hearing aids) will be available to purchase in the United States. Many people may be curious about this option for hearing loss and what it means for the industry, so here is some more information about them.
The Over-the-counter OTC hearing aids can be bought directly in stores or online, and are mainly for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. These hearing aids will be safe and closely regulated by the FDA, as well as clearly labeled.
In 2010, an estimated 16 million people with hearing loss were employed in the United States. Across the board, these workers received less pay and were more likely to be laid off, while those without jobs were more likely to remain unemployed compared to their peers with healthy hearing. With hundreds of millions of people living with uncorrected hearing damage, the lost potential is enormous and expensive—in total, lost wages that result from hearing loss cost the American economy over $150 billion.
If these statistics scare you, they should. Fewer than one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids has ever worn them, and due to under-reporting, it is likely that the number of people with hearing loss worldwide—reportedly 360 million—is much higher than we think. Stigmas about hearing loss, in addition to the negative impact it can have on employment and economic status, often discourage people from seeking treatment at the earliest warning signs.
NEVER GIVE UP
The psychological effects of hearing loss may discourage some from pursuing their life goals. Without treatment, activities that were once routine may begin to feel impossible. Over time, negative thoughts will eat away at your self-confidence and make it difficult to succeed.
Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. There are very few jobs you can’t do once treated with hearing aids, even with severe or profound hearing loss. If treated early and effectively, you may never even have to disclose your hearing loss to an employer.
And today’s OTC hearing aids address all the major flaws of past technology and are crafted to fit comfortably in your ear all day long. Their advanced digital technology can be customized for any lifestyle, and a miniature design makes them almost invisible to others.
