It is rare for private hearing aids to be the subject of major international marketing campaigns, but a recent wave of wireless earphones that claim to operate as over-the-counter hearing aids has placed the spotlight on hearing aids.
Following Apple’s release of earphones with claimed hearing testing and hearing aid support, alongside government approval for the sale of other brands of similar earphones without a prescription or tests from an audiologist.
Having multiple options is beneficial for people with mild hearing loss, although it must be made clear that they are not going to be sufficient for everyone, and the hearing test software is not a replacement for specialist audiology examination.
What makes the two systems different, and how can prescription hearing aids help where over-the-counter ones cannot?
A hearing aid prescription will also involve a comprehensive test of your ears, an examination of your hearing health and specially designed hearing aids which fit comfortably in your ears and meet your exacting needs.
Over-the-counter hearing aids, by contrast, rely on an audio testing app, which will adapt the settings of the earphones to the best of its ability to help reduce ambient noise, adjust the audio balance, alter the tone and boost the clarity of words during conversations.
They cannot check the state of your ears or any possible conditions which could be causing hearing loss, such as a perforated eardrum or wax build-up, so whilst it can be a useful first step, if you are still struggling with hearing loss, it may be best to consult a professional.
One possible benefit is that over-the-counter products could encourage people to get their hearing checked professionally.
One of the main reasons why people opt to go private for hearing aids is to have a more discreet option, which could include ones which fit completely in the ear or are transparent and are barely noticeable, depending on which options are suitable for your level of hearing.
By contrast, over-the-counter hearing aids provide a discreet look not by using clever technology to make themselves almost imperceptible but by looking like conventional earphones.
In some respects, this will become a long-term positive, as it will help to normalise visible hearing aids, but given that a purpose-built hearing aid provides specialist assistance, it is often the better option.
Comfort is often subjective when it comes to in-ear devices, but the difference between the two types is that whilst many earphones are designed to be as broadly comfortable to as many people as possible, audiologists ensure a personalised, comfortable fit.
The fitting process is one of the most important parts of ensuring hearing aids are beneficial in the long term, as a comfortable device that works effectively is more likely to be regularly used.
This matters since hearing aids need to be used as much as possible during the day to preserve hearing and avoid further significant hearing loss in the future.
Over-the-counter products can help people with mild hearing loss, but beyond this, dedicated prescription devices are necessary in order to preserve hearing and help prevent the side effects of serious hearing loss.
