The FDA earlier this week gave final approval for over the counter hearing aids and estimates 30 million Americans could benefit from a hearing aid.
Those who qualify for OTC hearing aids include those 18 and older with mild or moderate hearing loss.
Shayan Gupta, owner of Pittsburgh-based Audition Technology, says the FDA is taking steps to make sure patients are making the right choices. The CMU grad and founder of Pittsburgh-based Audition Technology says that model is already in later stages of testing.
"We started with actually developing an over the counter hearing aid or to be marketed over the counter hearing aide, that was actually the first product we started out with."
Now, with hearing aids soon available over the counter, he says it's a big win for people who previously had limited access.
"Inaccessibility in terms of financial capital but also in audiologist's offices, especially in rural parts of the country, can be really hard to come by."
The ruling takes effect in mid-October.
"Hearing aids can not only become more accessible but can also just become more normalized in society. That people can start getting the care that they need or the treatment that they need just as people get glasses when they don't have perfect vision."
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