What is an Over-the-Counter OTC Hearing Aid?
An over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid is a hearing aid intended for use by those who have mild-to-moderate hearing loss and are over the age of 18. OTC hearing aids do not require a prescription, which makes them convenient to purchase and use for those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. OTC hearing aids can be purchased directly from the hearing aid brand or from a retailer that sells OTC hearing aids.
What is a Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aid?
A self-fitting over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid is a type of OTC hearing aid that allows the user to adjust their hearing aid settings based on their hearing, usually with an app on their phone. Not all OTC hearing aids are self-fitting, so be sure to check this when deciding what type of OTC will work best for you.
A self-fitting OTC hearing aid may provide a more tailored hearing experience for its users. This is because self-fitting OTCs take into account the individual’s unique hearing characteristics, rather than creating a preset based on the average audiograms of those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Some self-fitting OTC hearing aids may ask the user a few questions and then sort them into one of a few presets based on a simple, short self-fitting process.
Concha Labs self-fitting process will ask you to provide feedback about sound level and clarity. The questions start with simple sounds and progress to life-like sounds and speech. As you answer these, Soundscope® uses your responses to analyze how you hear. At the end, Soundscope® uses this data to create an optimized hearing profile to help you hear clearly.
To learn more about Concha Labs’s self-fitting technology, visit our Soundscope® page.
What is a Non-Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aid?
A non-self-fitting over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid is a type of OTC hearing aid. These OTCs are already programmed with a preset to help people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Non-self-fitting OTC hearing aids may also be known as preset OTC hearing aids.
The presets in a non-self-fitting OTC hearing aids are typically created by making recommendations based on thousands of hearing tests from people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. From these hearing tests, a preset of settings that will generally work for people with mild-to -moderate hearing loss is created. With a pair of non-self-fitting OTC hearing aids, you are typically only able to adjust the volume of the hearing aid.
What Type of OTC Hearing Aid is Right for You?
If you have mild-to-moderate hearing loss, an OTC hearing aid may benefit you. The choice between a self-fitting and a non-self-fitting OTC hearing aid depends on your individual needs.
Non-self-fitting OTC hearing aids might be right for you if…
- You’re on a cheaper budget
- You don’t need access to additional hearing aid settings besides volume
- You want to use less time and effort in the configuration process
Self-fitting OTC hearing aids might be right for you if…
- You want the ability to control more settings on your hearing aid for a tailored hearing experience
- You don’t mind configuring the device through an app on your phone
If you’re looking for a self-fitting hearing aid, consider trying Concha Sol™ Hearing Aids to help with your mild-to-moderate hearing loss!