Backstage Country

Hearing Aids Now Available Over The Counter For The First Time

For the first time ever, hearing aids may now be purchased over-the-counter at U.S. retailers. It’s due to a new FDA rule that went into effect Monday, allowing adults to…

Hearing Aids Now Available
Rachel Murray via Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation

For the first time ever, hearing aids may now be purchased over-the-counter at U.S. retailers.

It's due to a new FDA rule that went into effect Monday, allowing adults to buy hearing aids without a prescription or medical exam.

The change is also expected to dramatically reduce the cost of hearing aids, by as much as $3,000 per pair.

Some of the retailers now offering OTC hearing aids include Walgreens, Walmart, and Best Buy, with CVS set to join the list next month.

What kind of impact will this have on older Americans? Those of you who have used hearing aids: what are some things we might not know about the difficulty buying or using them?


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Ransom Garcia is the music director and afternoon host on 1079 Coyote Country. He’s been with the station since 2017, but he’s been on the Las Vegas airwaves since 2003. Although he's Vegas Born AND Raised, Ransom also has on-air duties on sister station Kiss 95.1 in Charlotte, NC. He is also set to be inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame in September of 2024. Ransom writes articles about pop culture, human interests, technology, video games and anything affecting Las Vegas.