Tens of millions of Americans, mostly older Americans, would benefit from hearing aids. If the Senate passes the Build Back Better Act, which the House has already passed, Medicare would cover hearing aids under Part B. People with severe hearing loss tend to need expensive hearing aids, but Julie Jargon reports for the Wall Street Journal on low-cost hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, which should be available over the counter in 2022.
What’s happening? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the last phase of approving the sale of hearing aids without the need for a medical exam or a visit to the audiologist. These hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss should cost no more than a few hundred dollars. That’s far less than the cost of hearing aids fitted by audiologists, which can easily be a few thousand dollars.
How many people need hearing aids? Today, nearly 40 million Americans have hearing loss. But, only about 20 percent of people who need hearing aids for good hearing have hearing aids. They are too expensive, and there is a stigma to wearing them.
How important is it to address hearing loss? Hearing aids bring significant benefits, even for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Without a hearing aid, it can be hard to engage in social activities, leaving people prone to social isolation. For your health and well-being, it’s important to be socially engaged.
Some experts believe that you need to be socially engaged in order to keep your mind sharp. One study of 600 adults over 12 years found that even people with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia if they don’t use a hearing aid. People with moderate hearing loss are three times as likely to develop dementia if they don’t use a hearing aid. People with severe hearing loss quintuple their risk of getting dementia.
What are your options today? Right now, many people only have the option of spending $5,000 on hearing aids, which is not a viable option at all. Until you can buy over-the counter hearing aids, consider getting a hearing test if you are struggling to hear. You can take a test through a free phone app, like Mimi. The test might help you know whether you will benefit from an over-the-counter hearing aid or whether you need to see an audiologist.
How to choose an over-the-counter hearing aid? Several types should be available next year. Some will work in conjunction with your mobile phone, others will be simpler. Whichever you go for, make sure you can return it if it does not meet your needs.
Hearing assistance is already available. Some hearing buds and apps amplify sounds or cancel out background noise. Some apps provide captions on your TV. Check out this link for a list of different apps available for free.
And, if you’re not sure whether your hearing is as good as it could be, consider asking your friends whether they think your hearing would benefit from a hearing aid.
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