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One Year Into the OTC Era: Opinions and Opportunities  

It’s been roughly a year since the FDA expanded access to hearing aids through over-the-counter (OTC) sales. This change is intended to improve accessibility and reduce costs for millions of Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss. As a result, consumers are able to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online without needing a medical exam or a fitting by a hearing care professional (HCP). 

While initial concerns about the impact on audiology practices have not materialized, opinions and opportunities abound. Industry experts are examining the slow uptake of OTC hearing aids, the demographic shift toward younger buyers, and the potential for new business models. 

This feature report from The Hearing Review covers: 

  • The current market for OTC hearing aids and the adoption rate 
  • Strategies for hearing healthcare professionals around leveraging OTC hearing aid awareness to increase clinic traffic 
  • Marketing insights for targeting younger, DIY-oriented consumers 
  • The role of advanced technologies and hybrid models in patient care 

Download the report to understand the evolving landscape and discover opportunities for your practice in the OTC era. 

FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. Automatic speech recognition software generates captions of what the other party to the call says, and, in certain circumstances, a live communications assistant may be included on the call to make needed corrections and/or add call details. The captions are then sent to the phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. To learn more, visit fcc.gov. Third-party charges may apply: the Hamilton CapTel phone requires high-speed internet access (Wi-Fi capable) and in some cases, may require telephone service. When using Hamilton CapTel on a smartphone or tablet and not on Wi-Fi, a data plan is required. Hamilton CapTel may be used to make 911 calls but may not function the same as traditional 911 services. For more information about the benefits and limitations of Hamilton CapTel and Emergency 911 calling, visit HamiltonCapTel.com/911. Courtesy of Cisco Systems, Inc. Unauthorized use not permitted. “Noah” is a registered trademark of HIMSA II K/S in the USA. Outside the USA, “Noah” is a trademark of HIMSA II K/S. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. Copyright ©2024 Hamilton Relay. Hamilton is a registered trademark of Nedelco, Inc. d/b/a/ Hamilton Telecommunications.