Contributed by Amy Sarow, AuD, clinical audiologist
Now that over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are available across the country, you may be tempted to go online and see what the options are. Unfortunately, it’s a bit Wild West, with legitimate OTC hearing aids being sold adjacent to low-quality products, or even downright scams.
The publication Consumer Affairs was one of the first sites to report on the growing problem of OTC hearing aid scams, noting that some online companies are trying to position their low-quality products as OTC hearing aids. Many of these falsely advertised products have appeared on Amazon. In response to Consumer Affairs’ reporting, Amazon said it is taking steps to make sure device sellers are following their medical device guidelines.
Navigating this convoluted process can be stressful. How do you avoid falling prey to a similar scam? Some of it is common sense—watch out for telltale signs of fraud, such as promises of miracle cures or deep discounts. Here are six other key questions to keep in mind when shopping online for an OTC hearing aid:
1. Is there a way to customize the sound settings beyond volume?
You should buy a device that has customizable settings, which means you can adjust it based on your unique hearing loss. With professionally-fit hearing aids, this is handled for you by a licensed hearing care provider. With OTC, you…
