On October 17, 2022 the FDA’s OTC hearing aids ruling went into effect, allowing the purchase of hearing aids without a medical exam or prescription. I’ve informed my clients (nearly 1,000) and I am not aware of anyone who has gone this route. If you have, please let me know about your experience.
OTC hearing aids are designed to treat mild to moderate hearing loss. OTC hearing aids are true hearing aids that use the same technology as prescription hearing aids. You now can buy them at retailers such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Walgreens and CVS. The federal government estimates Americans could save up to $3,000 on hearing aids by choosing over the counter. Even though hearing loss can be a significant burden, many people wait an average of 10 years before buying hearing aids.
Hearing loss is one of the leading risk factors for dementia so hopefully the wide availability of OTC hearing aids will enable more people to afford quality hearing aids. For more information, please read an in depth article on OTC hearing aids from the National Council on Aging here: Updated in 2025