Still, only a tiny fraction of adults over 40 with hearing difficulties have purchased an OTC hearing aid, according to a July 2023 survey from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A major barrier is likely still cost, says Lindsay Creed, AuD, associate director of audiology practices at ASHA, though the introduction of a hearing aids feature on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 will likely change that landscape.
Adults in the survey who intended to buy OTC hearing aids said they were willing to pay around $200, on average, for an over-the-counter hearing aid, but many of these devices cost several times that. Many respondents also did not feel confident about choosing the right device on their own.
To help, we’ve tested some OTC hearing aids in our labs. We examined how easy they are to set up and use, and we conducted a series of audiological tests on them to see how they performed compared with some of the standards outlined by the Food and Drug Administration.
Within each type—preset and self-fitting—we found a lot of variation in sound quality, ease of adjustment, price, and accessories, so careful shopping is warranted. Because hearing loss can vary so much among individuals, it’s hard to say which will be best for you. So we haven’t ranked OTC hearing aids, but instead identified the pros and cons of each device, so you can make an informed decision.
OTC hearing aid manufacturers include audio equipment companies like Sony and Jabra, who’ve branched out from headphones and speakers, as well as companies that focus on hearing aids, like Eargo and Lexie Hearing. We also rate hearing aid brands based on survey responses from our members who’ve recently purchased hearing aids. In our most recent ratings, we received enough responses to rate three OTC hearing aid brands, along with 17 prescription brands. Members can check out those ratings here.
