Hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition in the United States.1
For many people, pursuing hearing loss treatment is overwhelming. Concerns about cost, stigma, or accessibility can be exhausting to navigate. Thankfully over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids have made hearing solutions more affordable and accessible. You might be wondering, am I a candidate for OTC hearing aids? Let’s talk about it.
OTC hearing aids are for individuals over the age of 18 with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. This can either be perceived hearing loss, or diagnosed hearing loss. If you would prefer to receive a diagnosis of hearing loss, you can visit a hearing care professional. They will explore your hearing loss with you, and help rule out other conditions. It's important to note: self-perceiving this level of hearing loss can be difficult.
The Concha Labs Concha Sol hearing aid is for adults with signs of mild to moderate hearing loss. How do you know if you have this?
- You have trouble hearing speech in noisy places.
- You find it hard to follow speech in groups.
- You have trouble hearing on the phone.
- Listening makes you tired.
- You need to turn up the volume on the TV or Radio, and other people complain it’s too loud.
Some people with hearing loss may need help from a hearing healthcare professional. How do you know if you need to see one?
- You can’t hear speech even if the room is quiet.
- You don’t hear loud sounds well, for example, you don’t hear loud music, power tools, engines, or other very noisy things.
If your hearing loss makes it hard to hear loud noises, this hearing aid may not be your best choice without help from a professional. If this hearing aid does not help you enough, ask for help from a hearing healthcare professional.
WARNING: When to See a Doctor
If you have any of the problems listed below, please see a doctor, preferably an ear-nose-throat doctor (an ENT).
- Your ear has a birth defect or an unusual shape. Your ear was injured or deformed in an accident.
- You saw blood, pus, or fluid coming out of your ear in the past 6 months.
- Your ear feels painful or uncomfortable.
- You have a lot of ear wax, or you think something could be in your ear.
- You get really dizzy or have a feeling of spinning or swaying (called vertigo).
- Your hearing changed suddenly in the past 6 months.
- Your hearing changes: it gets worse then gets better again.
- You have worse hearing in one ear.
- You hear ringing or buzzing in only one ear.
Hearing loss can significantly impact your quality of life. Understanding the signs of hearing loss and exploring OTC hearing aids is a great step in your journey to improve your hearing health.
- Blackwell, D. L., Lucas, J. W., & Clarke, T. C. (2014). Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: national health interview survey, 2012. Vital and health statistics. Series 10, Data from the National Health Survey, (260), 1–161.