Any experience with OTC hearing aids?

Don't Forget! Even an audiologist or a hearing aid technician is in the business of selling hearing aids. Each time I've bought a new set of aids, within a year, I start getting the sales pitch - new technology, etc. I'm in my fifth year with my set of Oticons. These are in great shape. The set before this lasted 7 years. I do believe that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

I am not good with "smart phones," so did not try hearing aids that use them. I gather, from friends report, that these are the most effective hearing aides.
But my hearing is getting progressively worse. I had expensive (thousands of dollars) hearing aids partially paid by insurance and professionally fitted.
However, the implements required for cleaning them were so tiny and hard for me to manipulate ....a real frustration. I even broke one aide trying to clean it.

I tried a much less expensive all-in-the-ear type, highly advertised on TV and elsewhere. The sound was better, though a bit "tinny".
They take some practice to use because the volume control is on the aide itself, in the ear, where it isn't visible. And I could hear the speaker to my left and to my right, but anyone facing me was almost impossible to hear much of the time.

I use the "all in the ear" hearing aides sometimes and rely on "lip-reading" and guess work otherwise. It's not perfect, but fortunately, being retired, my income doesn't depend on my hearing.

Wilmore6: Pose this question to your dad's audiologist.

My PCP said to go to Costco but it is a 2-1/2 hour drive each way for me and they did not return my phone call for an appointment.

I ended up buying Eargos on line. I love them. These are rechargeable and go in the ear.
$1500. I've had them for 2 years. No regrets.

I attended a lecture from an audiologist.
First Medicare pays for annual exams
You can ask the audiologist, based on the exam if dad could benefit. During the lecture the audiologit said it is up to the patiient and that when he (the audiologist) found some, he would test it out on his equipment
My hearing is less than 50% so it would be a no go for me. Costs for me is 5 k for my new ones with Bluetooth
I have Medicare Advantage and if I chose to use thier recommended doctors, there were some discounts.

I found out many Medicare Advantage plans have a hearing aid benefit. We are going to get new ones for my mom where insurance pays the lions share of this.

As far as the OTC, the old adage, you get what you pay for applies, but in some cases they OTC ones may be good enough. From what I understand they are more or less amplifiers.

OTC hearing aids are really only for limited hearing loss and not for people who can't fuss over the device. There are settings and app related activities that I found to completely irritate my dad. If he had been younger and more clear-minded, he probably would have liked it. If your dad gets frustrated with technology or cannot learn new things easily, do not use these devices. Get him a good, local hearing aid specialist; someone who really wants to help your dad as much as your dad needs. We found our dad needed help constantly but he really liked the local guy and the local guy really cared about our dad. (Lewiston, Idaho)

OTC technicians are salespersons. Whatever the outcome. Buy from me...no insurance or Medicare accepted.

My personal experience with OTC is Sales group. During free exam, the person kept pushing for a decision to buy $2,000+ hearing aids and wouldn't accept insurance or Medicare. Be aware of these sales people/technicians.

My mother is 95 and has great difficulty hearing. We bought and hooked up ear phone head set and she is just thrilled. She said she hasn’t missed one word since using. Bought her a 2nd pair for in the bedroom.
They are not overly expensive - less than $100 a set.

My husband was quoted $6000 by our ENT. Thats alot of money and our insurance doesnt cover it. So, I went on Amazon and got him a $99 pair just for the heck of it. They did the trick! They look just like airpods so no one knows he is even wearing a hearing aid. They have a 3.8 rating on Amazon so maybe look further, but my husband is really happy with these. It's inexpensive enough that I am thinking about buying another pair because he misplaces them all the time. The ones I bought are "Earbyear" rechargeable hearing aid for seniors. It comes in black or white. $98.89

My husband lost one of his 'good' hearing aids while in the hospital. We order an OTC set from Amazon and he says they're as good as his expensive ones. They are rechargeable in the case and easy to use. Just be sure to read the reviews to see the comments pro or con. It used to be you couldn't get decent ones OTC but now they are available. Do the research, we did.

No experience with hearing-aids, but thought this was interesting. My hubby over time had lost his hearing in one ear, primary doctor looked in the ear and did an ear-wash. Primary doctor also did a hearing test which showed that ear couldn't hear.


Before looking for hearing aids, I booked hubby an appointment with an ENT [ears, nose, throat] doctor for a second opinion. Turned out hubby had impacted wax in that silent ear. After numerous treatments, finally the solid block of wax was soft enough to remove. Hubby has his hearing back. Now, no more excuses he didn't hear me :)


Just food for thought.

One thing that can be a good feature is the bluetooth connection of phone to hearing aid
other than that, my Dad does not use any other fancy features on his

the audiologist tuned it at the start and he doesnt (and is not able to ) change other features and leaves them be

My partner actually PREFERS his MUCH less costly Costco option. However, he doesn't use his aid all the time. Uses it mostly when he is watching TV with others and doesn't want to deal with volume issues. He found that the ones that are costlier, more hidden, smaller and more tech savvy were also a pain in the neck as far as manipulating sounds and tones via his smart phone app. So this sort of thing just depends upon the person really, and what is right for him or her. We are all about as individual as our own thumb print.