Over-The-Counter Hearing Devices
OTC Hearing Devices
Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices open up a world of possibilities for those seeking affordable and accessible solutions to address their hearing needs. However, it’s important to remember that these devices are not customized to your hearing needs. While over-the-counter hearing aids are getting better every year, they might not be the right solution for you.
At Pratt Hearing Aids, we’re committed to making hearing solutions more accessible for everyone. It all starts with a hearing test to find out more about your hearing needs. Then we’ll talk about treatment options, including over-the-counter devices, assistive listening devices, and custom hearing aids.
What Are Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids?
If you’re looking for low-cost hearing solutions, you may have come across over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices, available in stores and pharmacies. These devices can amplify sounds and help you hear.
Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are a relatively new category of hearing devices available without a medical professional's prescription or fitting. These devices are designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. They often come with user-friendly instructions for self-adjustment and fitting.
While OTC hearing aids offer an affordable and accessible solution for some individuals with mild hearing loss, they might not be suitable for everyone. You’ll need to consider the fit, the settings, and your level of hearing loss, all of which can significantly impact sound clarity.
Start With a Hearing Test
While some people may think of hearing aids as small speakers that turn up the volume, hearing devices do a lot more than just amplification. These devices have a range of complex settings and features designed to help you hear more clearly in a range of listening environments.
That’s why a hearing test is so important. Finding out about your exact hearing loss and hearing needs helps you choose the right device. When you know what sounds you’re missing and how hearing loss impacts your ability to understand speech in both quiet and noisy settings, you can find a customized hearing solution that’s right for you.
The Benefits of Hearing Aids
Hearing devices have a range of benefits that help you hear. It’s not just about turning up the volume, it all about increasing sound clarity and enhancing your listening abilities. Some of the benefits of hearing aids include:
- Preserving Hearing: A universal volume increase, like the one offered by OTC hearing aids, can lead to excessively high volume levels in the frequency ranges where your hearing remains normal. This might actually lead to more hearing loss.
- Comfortable Listening: Incorrect adjustments can make some frequencies uncomfortably loud, making it uncomfortable to wear the hearing aids. If you don’t adjust your OTC hearing aids just right, they may be uncomfortable or even painful.
- Sound Clarity: Correct settings are crucial for sound clarity. Increasing the volume won’t be very helpful if speech remains difficult to understand.
Customizing Your Hearing Aids
Selecting the right hearing device will make all the difference in your hearing health. Modern hearing technology offers a range of incredible programs and features that can be customized to your unique hearing needs. Quality hearing aids often include advanced settings like enhanced sound quality, speech enhancement, tinnitus management, background noise reduction, and so much more.
Getting the right programs and features can make all the difference in helping you reconnect with the sounds around you. If you have custom hearing aids, your hearing specialist will provide ongoing monitoring and adjustments to match subtle changes in your hearing over time. You don’t have to go it alone or try to adjust OTC hearing aids on your own.
Personalized Hearing Support
At Pratt Hearing Aids, your hearing health is our top priority. We are dedicated to providing accessible and effective solutions that empower you with customized devices. The key is finding hearing aids that align with your unique hearing loss. Investing in quality hearing aids may be the best way to improve your hearing and your overall health.
If you’re ready to find out more, give us a call. It all starts with a hearing test and evaluation.
Better Hearing Starting at Just $99/Month
