Bob and I were at our favorite Italian place for our anniversary last spring. Candles, a little Sinatra playing, the works. I was telling him about our granddaughter's softball game, and he was smiling and nodding along so sweetly.
Then I asked him a question, and he said, "Sounds great, honey." The question was whether he wanted to split the tiramisu or order two. "Sounds great" is not an answer to that. That's when I realized Bob hadn't heard a word I'd said in twenty minutes. He'd been nodding through the restaurant noise all evening.
A few weeks later, he saw an ad for over-the-counter hearing aids at a price that seemed too good to pass up. Before he clicked "buy," we sat down and did some homework together. Here's what we learned.
What are over-the-counter hearing aids?
Over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids are a category of hearing aids you can buy without a prescription or a fitting from a hearing professional. According to the FDA, they're meant for adults 18 and older who think they have mild to moderate hearing loss. They're not meant for severe hearing loss.
That word "think" matters. You decide whether your hearing trouble seems mild to moderate. So the first question isn't which brand to buy. It's whether OTC is the right starting point for you.
Are OTC hearing aids right for me?
In plain words: OTC hearing aids may be a reasonable place to start if words get lost in background noise, you keep the TV louder than others like, you say "what?" a lot, and the change came on gradually. See a doctor first if your hearing dropped suddenly, you have ear pain or drainage, one ear is much worse than the other, you feel dizzy, or you hear ringing in just one ear. The FDA lists warning signs like these as reasons for a medical checkup.
If you're not sure how much hearing you've lost, a hearing test is a good idea anyway. It gives you a starting point and can rule out something simple, like earwax.
What should I check before I buy OTC hearing aids?
Here are those checks in words. Make sure the box says "OTC hearing aid," because a cheap personal sound amplifier is not the same thing. Read the return policy and how many days you have to try them. Find out whether you need a smartphone app to adjust them, or whether there are buttons. And check whether there's a real person you can call for setup help.
Bob's advice, now that he's been through it: keep a little notebook during the trial period. Write down how you did at dinner, on the phone, and at church. If you're not noticeably better by the end, send them back.
Does Medicare pay for hearing aids?
Original Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage plans include hearing benefits, though, and that's worth checking during Medicare open enrollment this fall, before you pay full price.
And don't put this off. Hearing well keeps you in the conversation, and it helps with balance and awareness too, which matters for staying safe from falls at home.
What happened at our next dinner out
Bob got a hearing test first. His loss turned out to be mild to moderate, so he tried a pair of OTC hearing aids with a 45-day return window. At our next dinner, he answered my tiramisu question on the very first try. Two spoons, one plate.
Take good care of yourself, and take even better care of each other.
Have you or someone you love tried OTC hearing aids? Tell us in the comments how it went.
