Better Access to Hearing Aids: What Rhode Islanders Need to Know
A new FDA rule has greatly improved access to hearing aids for people across the country. According to the University of Rhode Island, the rule “essentially establishes a new category of hearing aids for consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment, enabling them to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without the need for a medical exam or prescription.”
A White House press release notes that this change in rules could lower the cost of hearing aids by about $3000 per pair. As of October 17, 2022, major retailers have begun to sell these over-the-counter hearing aids for well under $1000 per pair.
This is great news for the estimated 30 million Americans who could benefit from hearing aids. It’s also encouraging because new research has found that treating hearing loss may actually help prevent the development of dementia.
In 2020, the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention & Care named twelve modifiable risk factors for dementia; one of those risk factors is untreated hearing loss. Studies have found hearing aid use to be a very strong protecting factor against dementia.
Why is this? Scientists have a few theories. According to Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Frank Lin, there are a few possibilities.
“Hearing loss can make the brain work harder, forcing it to strain to hear and fill in the gaps. That comes at the expense of other thinking and memory systems. Another possibility: Hearing loss causes the aging brain to shrink more quickly. A third possibility is that hearing loss leads people to be less socially engaged, which is hugely important to remaining intellectually stimulated. If you can’t hear very well, you may not go out as much, so the brain is less engaged and active.”
Here in Rhode Island, Dr. Rachel Smith is the director of URI’s Speech and Hearing Centers Audiology Clinic, and she shares some recommendations for people who are interested in getting hearing aids for the first time, via URI News and WPRI 12 News.
- Know what’s covered through Medicare or your insurance. Most plans have coverage for hearing tests.
- Get a hearing test from an audiologist before you buy. Smith strongly encourages people to consult a professional, because “part of our job as audiologists is not only to test your hearing but also to provide counseling as to how to manage a hearing loss and what products can help – so we can help point out what will work best for you, what might be a waste of money and how to make an educated purchase.”
- Research your purchase: before you buy, try to get a sense of the device’s functions, how to charge them, whether they connect to an app or phone, etc.
- Understand the trial/return periods, so that you can use them if necessary.
- Be mindful that hearing loss could be related to another medical problem.
For more tips, watch an interview with Dr. Smith on NECN: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Now Available.