For the first time, adults in the U.S. will be able to purchase hearing aids without needing to obtain a prescription beforehand.
According to the FDA, starting Monday, October 17, adults with mild to moderate hearing loss can buy hearing aids directly from a store or online – and at a lower price.
The high cost of hearing aids has been a barrier for many people with issues. Traditional hearing aids cost an average of $2,000 per ear, and many people need two of them.
Those under 18 or who have severe hearing loss will still need a prescription.
For many experts, this measure is a “game changer.” Tens of millions of people have hearing loss, but only about 16% of them use hearing aids, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The main reason is the high cost of the device.
President Biden recently signed the executive measure arguing that it was encouraging competition among device manufacturers. Until now, five companies controlled 90% of the global hearing aid market. This type of consolidation meant there was little price competition.
The White House said on Monday that hearing aids are available or will soon be at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Best Buy, and Hy-Vee, with some models costing around $200 per pair.