Current:Home > NewsTradeEdge Exchange:Millions of Americans will soon be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription -WealthRoots Academy
TradeEdge Exchange:Millions of Americans will soon be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription
Poinbank Exchange View
Date:2025-04-08 03:11:20
Adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment will be TradeEdge Exchangeable to buy hearing aids directly from stores, pharmacies and online retailers — no prescription or doctor's appointment required — as soon as mid-October.
That's thanks to a final rule issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday and set to take effect in two months, following years of campaigning by lawmakers and advocates. It creates a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids, which the Biden administration says will make the devices more accessible and affordable for millions of Americans.
The new rule applies only to certain air-conduction hearing aids for people ages 18 and older who experience mild to moderate hearing impairment, meaning those that are intended for pediatric use or severe hearing impairment will remain prescription devices. It also does not apply to "personal sound amplification products," consumer products that help people with normal hearing amplify sounds.
Hearing loss can complicate communication and contribute to social isolation, and researchers have also linked it to walking problems, falls, dementia and depression. Some 30 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aid use, according to the FDA. And yet, only about 14% of Americans with hearing loss actually use them.
The rule will lower costs and expand access
Until now, the high cost of hearing aids and exams — which are not covered by basic Medicare and often not covered by insurance — has been prohibitive for many people. The devices alone typically range from $1,000 to $6,000 per ear, and consumers must spend additional time and money getting examined and fitted by a specialist (even though, the White House says, experts say medical evaluation is not necessary).
The Biden administration estimates the new rule will lower the cost of hearing aids by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told reporters on a press call that the FDA is working with manufacturers to ensure the over-the-counter devices are of "good quality" and meet the agency's performance criteria.
It may also make the market more competitive
The administration is also touting the move as one that will reduce red tape while promoting innovation and competition in a highly concentrated marketplace.
An investigative report released by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in June found that the top five hearing aid manufacturers control more than 90% of the market.
Grassley and Warren have been leading the campaign for over-the-counter hearing aids since 2017, when they introduced the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act.
Congress passed that proposal at the time, but the Trump administration FDA didn't issue the rules that would actually allow for those devices to be sold directly to consumers. It's being implemented now because of the July 2021 "Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy," in which Biden called on the FDA to take action on over-the-counter hearing aids within 120 days (among a variety of other provisions).
The rule was years in the making
The FDA issued the proposed rule in October, and made several changes to the final version after reviewing more than 1,000 public comments.
Grassley and Warren's report found that hearing aid manufacturers and their allies backed "astroturf campaigns" to distort public perception around the proposed rule, launching form letter-writing campaigns that accounted for nearly 40% of all publicly available comments.
The senators applauded the FDA's announcement, saying in a statement that they "pressed the FDA to take action every step of the way — holding both Republican and Democratic administrations accountable — and fought back against entrenched special interests."
If you're thinking about buying over-the-counter hearing aids yourself, check out these tips from the Hearing Loss Association of America.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Florida prepares for next round of rainfall after tropical storms swamped southern part of the state
- Bridgerton Star Luke Newton Confirms Romance With Dancer Antonia Roumelioti
- Jenelle Evans Shares Update on Her Kids After Breakup From “Emotionally Abusive” David Eason
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Get an Extra 40% Off Anthropologie Sale Styles, 70% Off Tarte Cosmetics, $50 Off Cuisinart Gadgets & More
- Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks for firearms
- OpenAI appoints former top US cyberwarrior Paul Nakasone to its board of directors
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Illinois lawmakers unable to respond to governor’s prison plan because they lack quorum
Ranking
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- 6 suspected poachers arrested over killing of 26 endangered Javan rhinos
- Connecticut-sized dead zone expected to emerge in Gulf of Mexico, potentially killing marine life, NOAA warns
- Court upholds law taking jurisdiction over mass transit crimes from Philly’s district attorney
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- G7 leaders agree to lend Ukraine billions backed by Russia’s frozen assets. Here’s how it will work
- WWE Clash at the Castle 2024: Time, how to watch, match card and more
- 6 minors charged in 15-year-old boy's drowning death in Georgia
Recommendation
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
‘Tis the season for swimming and bacteria alerts in lakes, rivers
Wells Fargo fires workers after allegedly catching them simulating keyboard activity
See Savannah Guthrie's Son Adorably Crash the Today Show Set With Surprise Visit
Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
‘Tis the season for swimming and bacteria alerts in lakes, rivers
Algae blooms prompt 2 warnings along parts of New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee
Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks for firearms