Posted on 10/16/2022 8:38:07 AM PDT by devane617
The government on Monday will begin allowing pharmacies and big-box stores to sell hearing aids without prescriptions, a move that is expected to shake up an industry that has long been dominated by a handful of manufacturers under a model of care that critics said raised costs and stifled innovation.
Backers of the change say the move to over-the-counter hearing aid sales will usher in a revolution of lower prices and new technologies, and expand access for millions of people with untreated hearing loss.
But while the shift holds the promise of improving the lives of millions of people who have untreated mild to moderate hearing loss, it also is a sweeping test of consumer-driven health care.
For first-time users, hearing aids require fine-tuning and a degree of patience as the brain becomes accustomed to processing sounds that have been muffled for years, say audiology experts. It’s not like popping on a new pair of glasses and instantly seeing clearly. It sometimes takes days or weeks to become accustomed to them, which might be easy for tech-savvy people but more challenging for the target audience of elderly people.
Manufacturers say they are ready to smooth the process for new customers. Today’s hearing aids come with smartphone apps that allow consumers to calibrate the devices themselves. The manufacturers are setting up call centers and help desks to assist customers with fit and tuning.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
There are ads on CATV Fox News all day and night, for various hearing aids; no Rx required. Just call.
What?
I smell a rat. Superficially this seems great. There must be something else going on here. It does not line up with these control freaks usual MO. What am I missing?
Now they can call Apple Airpods hearing aids. It’s a boon to tech companies.
You can buy a lemonade without a subscription
I went to Costco for a free hearing test. They don’t require a prescription for their hearing aids.
what? I can’t hear you...
This must vary from state to state?
Over a dozen years ago I went to expensive audiologists for hearing evaluation and hearing aids. The process was very expensive.
I live in Texas and have been using big box store heating aids for at least 6 years. They have technicians on site that perform an audio analysis of your hearing. The hearing aids are much more affordable and controllable with an app on your cellphone for varying degrees of tempering background noise at parties or restaurants and will adjust volume and frequencies so you can hear the TV without blowing out anyone else in the room.
I’m no longer driving my wife crazy by asking “what” after everything she says. She said I don’t listen, or something like that, I wasn’t paying attention :).
LMAO
“I’m no longer driving my wife crazy by asking “what” after everything she says. She said I don’t listen, or something like that, I wasn’t paying attention :).”
Exactly my situation. My wife says I only hear what I want to hear. The frustration is real and so far everyone of the hearing aids I have tried—at HUGE expense—have accomplished nothing except to make what I can’t understand louder. I welcome competition to the hearing aid world. Can Sony, Samgung, Apple or others do a better job? YES!
I know this is a funny topic for many but until you experience hearing loss it is hard to understand. I have not been able to see a movie or watch a tv show for years.
I’m very sure I can give myself a decent hearing test using a desktop or laptop and headphones.
Then an adequate description of the tuning and boost capabilities of over the counter hearing aids would allow self experimentation to get a reasonable, useful benefit.
I keep on getting junk mail advertising discounts on hearing aids. I don’t need hearing aids. I’ve left messages to a few of them to remove me from their mailing lists, but they don’t pay any attention. The deluge continues.
When I was in the military, I took a few hearing tests, as required to apply for Officer’s School at that time. OCS.
I am suspicious that the Military has sold or traded some of my medical information to public organizations. There is no other way those hearing aid companies would know any thing of me testing for hearing. Or, it may just be since I take social security, something all ‘old’ people get in the mail.
‘I’m very sure I can give myself a decent hearing test using a desktop or laptop and headphones.”
I have not been able to hear a conversation in most situations for a very long time and have isolated myself with my lovely wife hot on my heals about it. Anything that may help is a blessing to me. Hopefully, some of the big tech guys can use their experience in finding an affordable solution.
Trump signed this into law in 2017. Did WaPo say anything then? F no they did not!!!
There is a mental cognition processing issue that can’t be helped by amplitude increases nor by frequency shifting.
There are a large number of near homophones that I find I’m hearing of late if I’m not really paying attention to the radio.
I hear you brother.
I told my wife and others in my life...
If I don’t acknowledge you, I am not ignoring you...
I didn’t hear you..
Yes!
The ones I am wearing now were nearly five grand for the pair!
Yes, this includes 3 years of “service and check ups”. So what? If they would let me have the software to adjust and tune them (they won’t, I asked) I could tweak them myself.
The hearing aid industry has been nothing short of a racket for decades.
nope no way! You get aids if you use them!
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