What You Need To Know About Over-The-Counter Hearing Devices

If you’ve read the news lately, you know that new research is coming out all the time linking hearing loss to other major health concerns like cognitive decline, depression, and an increased risk of accidents. Yet many people still delay treatment in part because they feel they can’t afford it. At Jersey Shore ENT Specialists, we’ve always looked for ways to make hearing devices more affordable. Thankfully, new technology, legislation, and changes in insurance are helping to make hearing loss treatments more affordable than ever.

In fact, hearing technology has had a number of exciting breakthroughs in the last few years which has led to lower-cost options including over-the-counter devices available in stores and pharmacies.

But don’t assume that because you can purchase a device over the counter that it’s a do-it-yourself endeavor. There’s a lot of expertise that goes into choosing the option most likely to be effective for your hearing loss. The clarity of sound can be affected radically by the way it fits, what settings you use and whether it addresses the underlying problem. The first step in treating hearing loss should always be a hearing test with a licensed hearing instrument specialist.