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Hearing Aid Direct-To-Consumer

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Hearing Aid Direct-To-Consumer, Lexie Hearing Aid, Jabra Hearing Aid, OTC Hearing Aid, Crystal Ear

  • See Also
  1. Hearing Aid
  2. Hearing Loss
  3. Sensorineural Heaing Loss
  4. Presbycusis
  5. Home Adaptations for the Elderly
  • Precautions
  1. Strongly consider consulting Audiology before any Hearing Aid purchase
    1. Formal Hearing Tests are often covered by insurance
    2. Many Hearing Aid resellers (including prescribed Hearing Aids, e.g. costco) offer free Hearing evaluation prior to Hearing Aid sale
    3. Online and mobile phone Hearing Tests are also available
      1. HearWho
        1. https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/hearwho
      2. Mimi Hearing Test
        1. https://mimi.health/hearing-test
  2. Evaluate Hearing Loss in clinic
    1. Consider Hearing Loss red flags (e.g. associated Vertigo, chronic Ear Drainage, Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss)
    2. Consider reversible Hearing Loss causes (e.g. impacted cerumen, Medication Causes of Hearing Loss)
  • Indications
  1. Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss
    1. Patients who turn up the television volume higher than others, or frequently ask others to repeat themselves
  • Contraindications
  1. Severe Hearing Loss
    1. Patients unable to hear loud sounds (power tools) or to hear conversations in a quiet room
  • Background
  1. Various Hearing Aid products have been available OTC
  2. FDA Reauthorization Act (2017) allows for direct-to-consumer sales of Hearing Aids
    1. Indicated for mild Hearing Loss
    2. Best outcomes with a complete audiology evaluation and rehabilitation
  3. Contrast with Hearing amplifiers used by hunters and bird watchers (e.g. iHEAR TReO)
  4. As of 2022, many new OTC Hearing Aids (e.g. Lexie, Jabra Enhance)
  5. Crystal Ear was available as a mail order product from TechnoBrands (Comtrad) in the 1990s
    1. Linear conventional analog Hearing Aid (most simple Hearing Aid type_
    2. Weak amplification in speech range (200-6000 Hz)
    3. One-size-fits-all device (came with 2 sleeves to help fit to ear canal)
    4. Court settlement regarding false advertising
    5. Was not recommended by Medical Letter
    6. (1998) Med Lett Drugs Ther 40(1028): 62 [PubMed]
  • Advantages
  1. Inexpensive ($200-1000 in contrast to $800-$4000)
  1. May be difficult to handle and place in ear canal
    1. May not prevent acoustic feedback (occurs when air escapes ear canal)
  2. Inadequate in noisy environments
  3. Helps only a minority of persons with Hearing Loss
    1. Those with mild, flat Hearing Loss
  4. Requires proper selection and setting
    1. Contrast with prescribed Hearing Aids which are typically managed by an audiologist
    2. Multiple size ear tips
    3. Volume settings
    4. Noise reduction settings
  5. Hearing Aid batteries may not be rechargeable
    1. Disposable, replaceable batteries last 3 to 20 days (depending on usage, battery size, noise cancellation)
    2. Hearing Aid batteries are hazardous waste and requires special disposal
  • Resources
  1. Hearing Aids (NIDCD)
    1. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/over-counter-hearing-aids
  2. Best OTC Hearing Aids of 2022
    1. https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/best-otc-hearing-aids/
  • References
  1. (2022) Presc Lett 29(12): 70
  2. Michels (2019) Am Fam Physician 100(2): 98-108 [PubMed]