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posted by on Thursday April 13 2017, @05:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the can-you-hear-me-now dept.

Now new technology and a rare bipartisan push from lawmakers who are trying to reduce regulations for the sale of hearing aids are raising hopes that more people with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to buy hearing devices a lot more cheaply and without seeing a doctor.

It's a modest-sounding goal, but supporters believe the measure on Capitol Hill could lower prices, spur innovation, and ultimately get hearing aids into the ears of far more people. Only 15 to 30 percent of people who need hearing aids actually get them, according to some estimates.

Currently, regulations in most states, including Massachusetts, require consumers to go to a licensed audiologist or other specialist to purchase a hearing aid. The average cost: $2,300 per ear.

Legislation sponsored by Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa would supersede individual state rules and force over-the-counter hearing aids into the national market. It has the support of AARP, which is the largest lobbying group for seniors and advocates for people with hearing loss. But it is drawing opposition from hearing aid makers and a major trade association for audiologists.​

Supporters say the bill could unleash competition and put hearing aids that cost a few hundred dollars on the shelves. It could also foster technology that, among other benefits, allows consumers to use smartphones to control their hearing aids.

Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2017/04/10/bipartisan-bill-would-make-hearing-aids-cheaper-and-more-accessible-but-some-doctors-object/17H4hx5qSPsPAITu2s997L/story.html


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  • (Score: 2) by driverless on Friday April 14 2017, @09:02AM

    by driverless (4770) on Friday April 14 2017, @09:02AM (#493887)

    Yes but all the places online I bought from required a copy of your prescription from a doctor over a certain magnification strength. (The eye docs tend to be jerks about getting copies of your eye prescription specifically for this reason.)

    This must vary from country to country, when I got mine (non-US country) I was ready with a long story about how I travelled overseas and might need to get them replaced while travelling and needed the details written down, but the optician never even asked, he just scribbled it all down and told me I could buy them online, or whatever. He'd already been paid, and didn't care where I bought the glasses.

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