Later this year the fda is expected to release requirements for over the counter otc.
Over the counter hearing aids fda.
Food and drug administration fda to ease barriers to buying a hearing aid.
Hearing loss affects millions of americans but high costs prevent many from purchasing hearing aids.
Over the counter otc hearing aids are a new category of hearing aids that will soon be available for purchase in stores and online without a prescription.
The new category of products will provide an alternative amplification option for adults with mild or mild to moderate hearing loss.
Direct to consumer hearing aids ease some of the cost and access problems that led a team of researchers to recommend that the fda create the new over the counter hearing aid category.
A law established on august 18 2017 as part of the fda reauthorization act of 2017 directed the fda to create a category of otc hearing aids for adults who might have mild to moderate hearing loss.
July 24 2018 status on over the counter otc hearing aids.
The fda is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety effectiveness quality and security of human and veterinary drugs vaccines and other biological products and medical devices such as hearing aids and over the counter hearing devices.
The change comes thanks to a federal law passed in 2017 directing the u s.