Could over-the-counter hearing aids be on the way?

[MillCreek]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/FDAGeneral/66400

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2635618?resultClick=3

Speaking as someone who shells out $ 3500 every three years or so out of pocket for a set of aids, I say bring on the competition and sell them over the counter.

[RevDisk]

It's been feasible for a long time now. Previously you needed an audio test to determine the frequencies are lost, and by how much. Now you could do that with an app and use Bluetooth to update the hearing aid. Miniaturization costs have substantially come down as well.

The barrier has been FDA medical device regulations.

[makattak]

It's been feasible for a long time now. Previously you needed an audio test to determine the frequencies are lost, and by how much. Now you could do that with an app and use Bluetooth to update the hearing aid. Miniaturization costs have substantially come down as well.

The barrier has been the FDA medical device regulations.

How shocking.

[RevDisk]

How shocking.

In fairness, if you just amplify equally across the board, you damage the person's remaining hearing.

[Pb]

This is another government monopoly that needs to die asap.

I use sound generators that are similar to hearing aides for hyperacusis treatment.  They are only available through an audiologist and the price is obscene.  A fair number of folks with hyperacusis complain about being unable to afford them.

[Fly320s]

Haven't we done this topic?

[makattak]

Haven't we done this topic?

What was that?! Speak up!

[Fly320s]

What was that?! Speak up!

I said, "THE SHERIFF IS NEAR!"

[Ben]

I said, "THE SHERIFF IS NEAR!"

What? The syrup is here?

[TechMan]

The current situation helps pay our bills.

[Firethorn]

Yet another reason for extreme healthcare costs...

Back when I last read about it, they had a lot of testimonies about people finding the $300 "hearing amplifiers" superior to their $5k "hearing aids".  Can't call them "aids" of course, or the FDA gets to step in.  Especially as they can setup their devices in a real-world environment and re-adjust as necessary.

Plus, without the FDA in the loop, the unregulated devices are free to develop and deploy new features at a far faster rate - meaning not only are officially approved aids an order of magnitude more expensive, they're a decade or so behind the loop development wise.  And that's before you cripple features like bluetooth app configuration because, by golly, you have to have a medical professional doing the setting!

[MillCreek]

The current situation helps pay our bills.

We know your wife is in the pay of Big Siemens.

[TechMan]

We know your wife is in the pay of Big Siemens.

Couldn't go with big Starkey or big Resound...no you had to go with big Siemens.   

She sees this as the potential end of audiology, but this doesn't apply to kids under 18.  She is switching to educational audiology. 

[Scout26]

The current situation helps pay our bills.

Back when I worked for Airborne Express, two of our largest customers were Beltone and Phonak.  Each had their own routing sort code and sent and received at least two thousand packages each day. 

[TechMan]

Back when I worked for Airborne Express, two of our largest customers were Beltone and Phonak.  Each had their own routing sort code and sent and received at least two thousand packages each day. 

I know she sends quite a few in for repair.  Evidently most dogs like earwax and will munch on a hearing aid if left where it they can reach it.