Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are now available for purchase without a prescription, but the implications of this change for audiologists and the public is just beginning to play out. Audiologist and researcher Marcia Hay-McCutcheon is asking questions about what these devices might mean for people living in rural areas with no audiology services, and she’s taking those questions on the road....
No actionable clinical change; this is an opinion/discussion podcast raising awareness of OTC hearing aid implications, not presenting new evidence.
The OTC hearing aid category represents a fundamental shift in how hearing care is accessed, and audiologists need to understand its potential effects on patient outcomes and the scope of practice.
- 01ASHA podcast features audiologist-researcher Marcia Hay-McCutcheon discussing OTC hearing aids.
- 02Raises questions about device performance and patient outcomes without professional fitting.
- 03Examines broader implications for the audiology profession and public access to hearing care.
- 04No new clinical evidence is presented; content is discussion and opinion.
- 05Relevant for audiologists navigating the evolving OTC landscape.
OTC hearing aids raise questions about device performance and patient outcomes.
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