Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Are Available Near Dickinson, TX
Even slight hearing loss can interfere with your ability to communicate. It can also negatively affect your health by causing cognitive issues and increasing your risk of accidents and falls. Nevertheless, like many people, you might avoid seeking treatment. The most commonly cited reason? “Hearing aids are just too expensive.”
It’s true that prescription hearing aids can be costly. Why? You are not only purchasing a high-tech device that required extensive research and development—you are also paying for the services of a highly trained hearing specialist, which will be rendered over the life span of your hearing aids. Oftentimes, the service costs are “bundled” into the purchase price of the hearing aids. However, at Autumn Oak Speech, Voice, and Hearing, you can pay for the services as you receive them, which will help keep your costs down.
Additionally, there is now a more affordable alternative to prescription hearing aids—over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids—which are available at Autumn Oak near Dickinson, Texas.
What Are OTC Hearing Aids?
A combination of technological advancements, recently enacted legislation, and insurance updates has cleared the way for the establishment of a new class of hearing devices known as over-the-counter hearing aids. These amplifiers, which are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are appropriate for many adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Similar to OTC reading glasses, these pre-programmed hearing aids can be purchased without a consultation or a prescription from a doctor.
Although the widespread availability of OTC hearing aids is an undeniably positive development that will help millions of people, it is important to proceed with caution. Just because you can treat your hearing loss on your own doesn’t mean that you should. Also, keep in mind that over-the-counter hearing aids were available to the public for years prior to their FDA regulation, but the OTC hearing aids offered by Autumn Oak are of better quality than those featured in infomercials.
Why It’s Important to See an Audiologist
Hearing loss treatment is a complex science that requires specialized expertise. For instance, your ability to understand spoken words is dependent on the clarity of the sounds that reach your ears, which is influenced by the way your hearing aids fit, the settings that you use, and whether the devices are powerful enough to effectively treat your hearing loss. Through scientific measures, your audiologist at Autumn Oak will verify the appropriate fit of your medical grade hearing aids. As a result, your cognition, speech, understanding, and balance should improve, and any ringing in your ears should resolve.
The trained audiology doctors at Autumn Oak Speech, Voice, and Hearing can help you find and afford the right hearing loss treatment for your unique needs. If over-the-counter hearing aids are right for you, you can take advantage of this convenient and affordable option at our hearing clinic near Dickinson, TX.
