Adults in the United States with mild-to-moderate hearing loss may now purchase hearing aids without a prescription, medical exam, or audiologist fitting. In August, the Food and Drug Administration released a final regulation allowing shops and online sellers to sell over-the-counter (OTC) devices beginning today.
According to the White House, the measure may save customers thousands of dollars on a pair of hearing aids. Walmart currently sells them through its website, Sam’s Club, over 1,000 in-store Vision Centers, and 474 Sam’s Club Hearing Aid Centers. Walmart’s offerings range in price from $199 to $999 per pair. According to the manufacturer, similar prescription hearing aids cost between $4,400 and $5,500.
