How To Improve Quality of Life Through OTC Hearing Aid Benefits

We all want to have a good quality of life. That is simply a fact. However, we might experience natural hearing loss as we age, which can negatively affect our perception of ourselves and the world around us. Hearing loss can make it challenging to communicate with our loved ones and carry on in our day-to-day routine. 

A standard solution to hearing loss is to talk with an audiologist who would prescribe hearing aids. However, waiting for an appointment can take months, and seeing a doctor costs time and money. Prescription hearing aids can be costly, regardless of whether your insurance covers them. Without insurance, seeing a doctor and getting prescription hearing aids can also cost too much. 

Luckily,  over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are now available, so you can get back to enjoying your daily routine and the company of your loved ones. One of OTC hearing aids' benefits is that they’re affordable and easily accessible, whereas prescription hearing aids usually aren’t. OTC hearing aid benefits include improving quality of life as they help you to regain your hearing. In this article, we’ll go through how OTC hearing aids improve quality of life, where you can find hearing aids over the counter, and the best over-the-counter hearing aids. 

Improving Quality of Life With OTC Hearing Aids

One of the many OTC hearing aid benefits is that they instantly improve quality of life. First and foremost, OTC hearing aids can help improve your communication with others. This is important with loved ones to ensure quality relationships with those you care about. But it is also essential with strangers – the bank teller, the customer service agent, etc. – to make sure you can communicate your needs and get help when needed! According to studies, people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. Often, these stressors are due to feelings of isolation that difficulty communicating can cause. 

So, to improve your quality of life, your next step should be finding the best hearing aid for you! The FDA recommends that hearing aids purchased over the counter can benefit adults over 18 with mild to moderate hearing loss. But without talking to a doctor, what constitutes “mild to moderate hearing loss?”

Mild and Moderate Hearing Loss

How do you know if over-the-counter hearing aids might be right for you and if they help you avoid the feelings of isolation hearing loss can cause? If you have mild hearing loss, you likely find that you can’t hear quiet conversations and other quieter ambient sounds. If you find that you can’t hear conversations taking place at an average noise level, then you likely have moderate hearing loss. Both mild and moderate hearing loss can impact your daily life, but acquiring hearing aids over the counter is a quick and accessible solution to help you hear better and more easily participate in conversations. Feel free to take our online hearing test to assess your needs and see if our OTC hearing aids are the right solution.

How Purchasing Hearing Aids Over the Counter Works

Perhaps one of the best OTC hearing aid benefits is that you can buy them from a store or online,  such as at Soundwave. At Soundwave, we provide lifetime customer service, a risk-free 45-day money-back guarantee, and a 1-year warranty on  our Sontro® Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aids so you can confidently try them. Regardless of the OTC hearing aid product, they can significantly improve your quality of life by helping you regain your hearing and confidence. 

Prescription vs. OTC Hearing Aids

The main difference between OTC and prescription hearing aids is that OTC hearing aids help manage mild to moderate hearing loss. In contrast, prescription hearing aids can manage any kind of hearing loss. Prescription hearing aids also require the help of a healthcare provider to adjust them. On the other hand, OTC hearing aids are more user-friendly, meaning that you can easily set them up and maintain them yourself. Hearing aids contain a  microphone, amplifier, and speaker that all work together to help you hear better. There are many different types of OTC hearing aids available, including behind-the-ear hearing aids. But how do you know which are the best over-the-counter hearing aids?

What Are the Best Over the Counter Hearing Aids?

Finding the best over-the-counter hearing aids comes down to several factors, mainly your level of hearing loss and preference. The OTC hearing aid benefits depend on what you’re looking for in a pair of hearing aids, such as style, technology, and wearability. As with any product, OTC hearing aids range in price, which can be another determining factor. Nevertheless, with OTC hearing aids, you don’t have to sacrifice functionality for less expensive hearing aids. You can consider OTC hearing aids that are best suited for your lifestyle. 

A Note on Hearing Amplifiers

Hearing amplifiers are another popular option on the market. These devices amplify all the sounds of your environment at the same time. While this may sound promising, there are some overall concerns. Hearing amplifiers are not always approved for wear because they don't decipher which sounds you want to hear. For example, in a noisy restaurant, your friend's voice is amplified at the same level as the dishes and forks clattering. Additionally, the FDA does not regulate hearing amplifiers, so it can be hard to trust what amplifiers are up-to-par.

Hearing Aid Types and Features

Hearing aids are available in many different styles and have different features, so you can search for a make and model that would work for you the best. We’ll go through common types of hearing aids, and some of the features they include that’ll help get you started searching for the right pair. It is important to note that these are only a few options, but they are among the most important things to look for. 

Type: Behind-the-Ear

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are one style where most components rest behind the ear and connect to the earpiece by a thin wire. This style allows you to manage the hearing aid effortlessly.

Type: In-the-Ear

In-the-ear hearing aids are smaller than behind-the-ear hearing aids, as they sit mostly at the ear’s opening. Other styles of hearing aids include in-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal aids, which are smaller than in-the-ear models.

Feature: Noise Reduction

Noise reduction is a feature of some models that helps to lower background sounds, making it easier to distinguish between sounds you want to hear, such as a conversation, and ambient noise.

Feature: Wireless Functions

Some hearing aids allow you to connect them to other devices, such as your smartphone, to facilitate the sounds of music, phone calls, and other audio from your device directly into your ear. This feature can make your audio experience clearer and more effortless, depending on the model of the hearing aids. 

Improving Quality of Life With Soundwave

At Soundwave, we connect clients with mild to moderate hearing loss to OTC hearing aids to improve their quality of life. We want you to have meaningful conversations with those you love. We want you to navigate the world with confidence and clarity. So end the isolation and start your journey to better hearing today with us at Soundwave!