How much you pay for a hearing device might not align with how well you hear

Over-the-counter hearing devices are more affordable than hearing aids. And many lower-cost amplifiers work about as well as conventional hearing aids that can cost about $2,000 each. So says a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Personal sound amplification products, which typically cost $300 to $500, work like hearing aids but can’t be marketed as hearing aids because they do not meet Food and Drug Administration standards.

The study supports legislation being considered by Congress that would direct the FDA to set new safety and accessibility standards for the personal sound amplification devices. With new safety standards in place, consumers could buy the over-the-counter options without a prescription or a medical exam, saving hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

About 30 million Americans have age-related hearing loss, but only one-quarter use hearing aids. Cost is a big reason – Medicare and most private health insurers don’t cover hearing aids.

Nicholas Reed, an audiology instructor at John Hopkins School of Medicine, tells Kaiser Health News that new FDA regulations would improve the products that are available. Many, he said, are ineffective and even dangerous because the user can’t control sound levels.

Hearing aid companies and distributors oppose the legislation – they don’t want the competition.

Have you considered hearing aids but been limited by the price? Would you use over-the-counter devices? Share your story.