In October 2022, the FDA established a new category of , allowing adults (18+) with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to purchase these devices without a medical exam, prescription, or professional hearing test. This change aimed to increase accessibility and reduce the high costs traditionally associated with prescription models. Key Benefits of OTC Hearing Aids

: While prescription pairs can cost between $4,000 and $6,000, OTC pairs often range from $300 to $1,000 .

You need to turn up the TV or radio louder than others prefer. Listening in social situations makes you feel tired. Top-Rated OTC Hearing Aids (2024–2026)

You have trouble hearing speech in noisy environments or groups. You find it difficult to hear clearly on the phone.

: Many models are "self-fitting," meaning you use a smartphone app to perform a basic hearing assessment and customize the device's settings yourself. Who Should Buy Them?

Based on expert reviews from sources like the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and HearingTracker , these are the top performing models: OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know - FDA

According to FDA guidelines , you may be a good candidate for OTC hearing aids if you answer "yes" to these symptoms of mild to moderate hearing loss: