Four years after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed hearing aids for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to be sold in the U.S. over the counter (OTC), UC San Francisco researchers explain in a new JAMA Viewpoint the many hurdles consumers continue to face selecting and buying an appropriate device.

Consumers shopping for an OTC hearing aid have to sort through dozens of products, determine which ones are registered or cleared by the FDA, figure out what insurance will cover, and find expert help to choose and set up a device, according to co-authors Kathryn A. Phillips, PhD, professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, and Christine K. Cassel, MD, a professor of medicine.

They point to extensive interviews conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office and other research to support their claims. “Over-the-counter hearing aids have opened the door for many people who might otherwise never have gotten hearing aids,” said Phillips. “But people still have to figure out what to buy, whether they can afford it, and where to get help.”

Products vary widely in price, features, and ease of use, and consumers may have trouble determining whether a device is FDA approved, according to the authors.

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