Hearing aids can finally be sold over the counter from Monday, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved them for sale without a prescription in August.
Many people have no doubt been awaiting this day, with approximately 15 percent of adults in the U.S. having some trouble hearing. The FDA's decision was aimed at making hearing aids accessible to more people who need them, with their wider availability intended to encourage competition and lower cost. The FDA has also laid out rules and regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids to ensure all devices sold are safe.
SEE ALSO:Barbie's diverse new line features doll with a hearing aid"Hearing loss is a critical public health issue that affects the ability of millions of Americans to effectively communicate in their daily social interactions," FDA commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf said at the time of the decision.
"Establishing this new regulatory category will allow people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to have convenient access to an array of safe, effective and affordable hearing aids from their neighborhood store or online."
Sony is among the first tech manufacturers to offer prescription-free hearing aids under the new rules. Designed in partnership with WS Audiology, the company's CRE-C10 and CRE-E10 hearing aids will set you back a pretty penny at $999.99 and $1,299.99 per pair respectively. This may sound like a lot, it's still much more affordable than the average cost of hearing aids up until now, with a pair capable of costing anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000.
Prior to the FDA's approval, anyone wanting to get a hearing aid had to undergo a medical and/or audiological examination to evaluate the type and amount of their hearing loss; obtain written medical clearance for a device (or sign a medical waiver); and make multiple visits to an audiologist to get evaluated, fitted, and for follow-up checks.
Now it may be as simple as ordering your hearing aids online and setting them up yourself at home.
TopicsHealthAccessibility
(责任编辑：焦點)
Nancy Pelosi warns colleagues after info hacked
Everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in September
Shop uses photos of Jeff Goldblum to sell stuff and frankly we'll take 1 of everything
Christine Hallquist could become America's first openly trans governorTwitter grants everyone access to quality filter for tweet notificationsOver 82,000 evacuate as Blue Cut fire rapidly spreads in southern California
A rapidly spreading wildfire in southern California's Cajon Pass has grown in hot, dry weather, thre
...[详细]The U.S. Open says it regrets warning a female tennis player for taking off her shirt
Sometimes, a good public outcry is all you need.After female tennis player Alizé Cornet brief
...[详细]Scientists thought 'Steve' was a new aurora. Turns out it isn't.
Named "Steve," the swathes of purple light filling skies over Regina, Canada, spurred plenty of intr
...[详细]Shop uses photos of Jeff Goldblum to sell stuff and frankly we'll take 1 of everything
The question of how best to sell a photo frame has long plagued store owners.Should they be filled w
...[详细]Give your kitchen sponge a rest on this adorable bed
Our kitchen sponges do a lot of work. Don't they deserve a good night's rest?"Sure," said design stu
...[详细]This artist does the most detailed pen drawings you've ever seen
The amount of detail in artist Olivia Kemp's massive landscape drawings is breathtaking. Especially
...[详细]Michael B. Jordan surprising a group of kids at school is as pure as it gets
Michael B. Jordan may have won "Best Villain" at the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards, but to so many fa
...[详细]Aretha Franklin funeral: Bishop sorry for the way he held Ariana Grande
The bishop who presided over Aretha Franklin's funeral on Friday has since apologized via a statemen
...[详细]One thing's for sure: you're never too old to learn. 。Massachusetts woman Clare Picciuto turned 100 F
...[详细]Tough guys Alex Jones and Marco Rubio almost get into a physical fight
We need Celebrity Deathmatchmore than ever.Deplatformed Infowars host Alex Jones and the Senate's mo
...[详细]You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic
‘Hereditary’ still haunts its young stars, but not in the way you think
