Biden stops hearing aid wearers from getting fucked

[Cyrano]

I don't wear hearing aids, but people I know who do, say that their hearing aids cost them anywhere between $500 to $1,000 or far more. That's because a prescription from a doctor is required for hearing aids.

Joe Biden has put an end to that ripoff by making hearing aids available over the counter.

Hey, Republican hearing aid wearers. Biden just saved you a bunch of big bucks. And if your party takes over the government, they'll repeal this and you'll be fucked again.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/17/health/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-available

[Bayard]

1. I have new hearing aids from Miracle Ear

To the tune of $6K. They are pretty finely tuned though, and nearly invisible, with a policy that covers any kind of loss, and free batteries.

I have a friend, who's husband just got his at Costco for $1,800.

[TheBlackAdder]

24. That's 5 64GB iPhone XLs, for something that only marginally does one function.

.

They sell it as picking up voices in a club, but in noisy environments they really just start to reduce most sounds below 300Hz and above 3.4KHz. Very little directional capabilities too. What they touted was their micro-miniature circuitry, which is now common in many other hearing devices above $600. I checked CVS and they have a few OTC ones from several hundred dollars to well under $2K, and eligible for most HSA/FSA plans.

.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

2. Why shouldn't hearing aid wearers be able to have sex?

(Sorry-- bad joke based on your thread title.)

Obviously great news for the people who need them.

[bigtree]

3. oh my!

[Cyrano]

4. Yes, "oh my!" Well said.

I had no idea of the costs involved. Millions of people have been unable to afford the outrageous prices being charged for a basic necessity for themselves.

This one Executive Order alone is one of Joe Biden's outstanding services to so, so many people. He should be universally praised for this, rather than taking shit from malicious Republican morons.

[bigtree]

22. it's definitely cool, Cyrano

...my wife and I have been waiting for this.

Regardless...

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Even with the hearing aid up on high, they won't listen.

[TheProle]

12. Yeah they need a "listen to reason" setting

Great news for folks who need them, including myself before too long.

[C Moon]

6. That would be my next door neighbor. Good man, but easily fooled by his church to believe in tfg.

[rurallib]

7. Give a huge amount of credit to Elizabeth Warren

Chuck Grassley is trying to take credit for this in Iowa, but Elizabeth Warren put the bill together.Here is the story in a video with Robert Reich. The part about the hearing aids starts at 1 minute and ends at 5 minutes. Grassley did co-sponsor but that was all:

This was back in 2017. Trump signed the bill but something {hint: hint} kept the FDA from acting for nearly 5 years.

[peppertree]

8. +1

Besides which, Assley is of the opinion that if you can't afford a hearing aid - you should just ask people to speak louder.

[ancianita]

9. Thanks for the history of Warren's well earned credit for this.

I'm not getting the 'hint hint.' What or who specifically kept the FDA from acting on the bill?

[rurallib]

11. I don't know for sure but it has all the hallmarks of a Republican

'we won't do anything that might help the little guy' kind of action, so I assume someone in the Trump admin.

I tried over the years to find out how the rule got stopped in the FDA, but considering all the crimes going on during Trump. this was really small potatoes.

[ancianita]

17. I see. Okay, fair enough. Glad it's been finally acted on, thanks to our badass president.

[dalton99a]

27. +1

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. I'm under the impression that these hearing aids are the equivalent

of the reading glasses sold in many places. Fine for a very limited use, but not good for any kind of complex seeing problem. I suspect these now available hearing aids will be much the same.

Yes, better than nothing, but this isn't going to magically make everyone with hearing loss now able to buy an effective aid.

It's really important to understand exactly what this is.

[rurallib]

15. That is a really good question

I could use some help in the hearing department, but how to go about shopping for these?

Can I try them on and return them if they don't work. Will there be some sort of store assistance? Some sort of guidance?

Since I first discovered the Warren video above I have been trying to get answers but all I get is blank stares

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. I have no idea.

I do buy those OTC reading glasses, which is easy. Pick up a particular strength, put it on my face, and see how well I can read the size of print I want to read.

Testing a hearing aid is going to be a lot trickier. You may well have to go into the stores that will be carrying them to see what kind of help you can get.

[Auggie]

18. I strongly recommend Costco

The Costco must have a hearing department. If you don't have a membership get one -- it will pay for itself in savings. Costco does not receive commissions on devices. They will conduct your hearing test too.

I went this route and am quite happy with the results. I saw an audiologist first who recommended aides costing between $5000-$8000. Got different devices from Costco for $1900.00. They're programmable and directional and work just fine.

Hearing aides are returnable by law.

[Rebl2]

19. True, but

maybe it will help a lot of people. I have read people who develop hearing loss are more vulnerable to developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. Don’t know how true it is, but have read it multiple times the last five or more years.

[littlemissmartypants]

20. FDA Guidance

Hearing Aids and Personal Sound Amplification Products: What to Know
Learn about hearing aids, including OTC hearing aids, and personal sound amplification products.
Snip...

...information about the FDA’s requirements for hearing aids sold over-the-counter (OTC), which are intended for people 18 years of age and older who have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

Hearing Aids and How They Work
People may be born with hearing loss. Or they may develop it later in life — often because the inner ear can wear out as we age or be damaged by years of exposure to loud sounds.

In some cases, hearing loss is temporary and can be restored with medical help. In other cases, it’s permanent but can be improved with hearing aids.

Hearing aids are medical devices worn behind or in the ear. They can improve hearing by making sounds louder. However, hearing aids usually won’t restore your hearing to normal levels or quality in the way that eyeglasses can often restore vision to 20/20.

Air-conduction vs. bone-conduction hearing aids
Most hearing aids work through air conduction. They bring amplified sound into the ear canal. Sound then moves through the eardrum and three tiny bones in the middle ear to reach the inner ear, where it’s processed and sent to the brain.

For people who have problems with their outer or middle ear, those areas can be bypassed with bone-conduction hearing aids. They send sound through the skull to reach the inner ear.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids: BTE hearing aids are generally the largest hearing aid style. A plastic case containing most of the electronics sits behind the ear and is connected to an earmold that fits in the ear canal. BTE hearing aids can be used by people of all ages. The style is often chosen for young children because it can be adapted as they grow.

Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) aids: RIC (or mini receiver-in-the-ear; mini RITE) hearing aids sit behind the ear but are typically smaller than a BTE. The RIC hearing aid is attached to a tube housing a small wire with a dome-shaped tip at the end that rests in the ear canal (in some cases, earmolds are used). The RIC design allows more of the ear canal to remain open and is less visible than the BTE style.

In-the-ear (ITE) aids: This hearing aid sits completely in the outer ear (the “bowl” of the ear). All the hearing aid electronics are housed in a custom-fit shell.

In-the-canal (ITC) aids and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) aids: These are the smallest hearing aids currently available. The electronics are contained in a small custom-fit shell that fits partly or completely into the ear canal. Some people may like them because they are less noticeable while other people may find them harder to handle.

Hearing Aid Features
Today’s hearing aids come with a variety of features. Here are some of the more common ones.

Directional microphones focus on sound from a specific direction. They could help you hear someone in a face-to-face conversation over the noise around you, for example.

Telecoils enable the hearing aid to pick up sound directly from compatible phones or compatible sound systems in public places, such as theaters and houses of worship.

Wireless connectivity such as Bluetooth allows hearing aids to interact with televisions, cellphones, computers or tablets, for example.
Getting Hearing Aids
Medical evaluation for children (younger than 18 years of age)
While hearing loss in adults is often caused by aging or noise exposure, the reasons for hearing loss in children are more varied and may be associated with other medical conditions that should be medically evaluated prior to prescribing hearing aids. OTC hearing aids are not intended for and must not be sold to people younger than 18 years of age. Hearing aids intended for people younger than 18 years of age are prescription hearing aids.

Prescription hearing aids are sold by audiologists; ear, nose, and throat doctors; or sellers licensed to dispense hearing aids, such as instrument specialists.

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids
To broaden access to hearing aids, the FDA established a new category of OTC hearing aids so you will be able to buy one in the store or online without seeing a physician for an exam or an audiologist for help with fitting. The new FDA regulation, which implements a law from Congress, also aims to stimulate competition, providing consumers with improved access to devices that meet their needs and are less expensive than current options.

The OTC final rule applies to certain air-conduction hearing aids intended for people 18 years of age and older who have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. A person with mild hearing loss may have difficulty hearing some speech sounds but not others. A person with moderate hearing loss may have increased difficulty hearing some speech sounds, even in a quiet room with someone talking at a normal level.

“We want hearing aids to be more readily available and accessible, especially as our population ages,” Mann explains. “It’s also important for people to recognize that hearing loss could be a sign of an easily treatable problem like built-up earwax or a more serious problem like a benign tumor on the hearing nerve. See a doctor when things don’t feel right, when your hearing loss is progressing, or if you are having associated symptoms like dizziness, ear pain, or drainage from the ear canal.”

Hearing aids vs. personal sound amplification products
You may have seen products in stores or online that are known as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs). These are not alternatives to hearing aids.

While hearing aids and PSAPs both amplify sound for the user, the products have different intended uses. Hearing aids are intended to make up for impaired hearing. PSAPs, in contrast, are intended for people with normal hearing to amplify sounds in certain situations, such as recreational activities like birdwatching or hunting.

Because such PSAPs are regulated as consumer electronics and not medical devices, they may be more variable in terms of product quality compared to hearing aids.

Snip...

Helpful chart at the site...
Additional resources...
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hearing-aids-and-personal-sound-amplification-products-what-know

More...

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hearing-aids-and-personal-sound-amplification-products-what-know

❤️ pants

[Jirel]

13. The $1,000+ hearing aids are NOT a ripoff.

I get so tired of hearing that line. For people with certain kinds of hearing loss, they may be a necessity. For people who want tiny, in-ear devices that aren’t obvious, they’re the only game in town. For people who have oddly shaped ear canals, etc., they may be the only thing that works and is comfortable, and won’t cause feedback.

Yes, SOME people who are hard of hearing can use the OTC ones now, and that’s awesome. I just went to a hearing this morning with a client who has a roughly $100 set from Walmart. For him, they’re a life changer, and he loves them. BUT - he’s one of those folks who just needed an overall volume boost, and already had excellent speech discrimination at high volumes. He’s the perfect candidate. The set requires a hard plastic neck collar (lightweight) with earbuds coming up from it (not everyone can wear earbuds!). They can’t be used on the phone, like the custom in-ear hearing aids. Some of those even have Bluetooth connection toon to a phone for the best sound quality. So, people like my client would have to hope they can hear well enough to put a phone right up to their ear, and pump the phone’s volume.

Biden’s measure is great, but it doesn’t cover the needs of a large portion of hearing aid wearers, pure and simple. Custom aids are expensive for a reason, and the OTC versions simply can’t replace them.

[Cyrano]

25. Given your price reasoning, eye glasses should cost thousands of dollars.

And you twice refer to your "clients." I truly don't understand your use of those words.

[Jirel]

29. Don't be obtuse.

First off, I’m a lawyer. I have disabled clients. Not hard to understand what clients I’m talking about.

Second, that’s a nonsensical analogy for anyone who knows anything about medicine. With glasses, the technology is dead simple. A lot of their price is in fancy frames, which can be avoided by reusing old ones. But some lenses aren’t as easy to grind, for astigmatism, or getting a tough progressive just right (and I should know - I have one of those tricky ones due to eye damage and a paralyzed iris). Are the prices for those too high? In many cases, yes. In some, no - I don’t begrudge *some* of the higher price to the lab I use, because they have had to remake my lens multiple times to get it right, without extra charge under their warranty. Regardless, glasses are much less expensive generally, and can be even less pricey through some vendors for most people’s simpler prescriptions, for good reason.

Hearing aids are a different ballgame. They were not all that sophisticated, not even that long ago. But in the last 20 years especially, they have improved markedly. They have different types to address different types of hearing loss. There are custom attributes to address specific bands of frequencies in hearing loss, which can vary radically person to person. That requires tough microcircuitry to be encased in a custom, tiny unit with a battery, to boot. It has to be well fitted, if it’s in-ear, or it can be useless or even painful due to feedback. It’s not just a matter of putting an amplifier in a headphone and calling it done.

The latter is what they’re doing with these low-cost units. They are for MILD and mild/medium hearing loss only, and for uncomplicated hearing loss at that. For some people they are amazing. For others, they would be useless. They’re basically just a headphone on the ear versus a custom in-ear model, with some filtering.

Hearing aids for everyone else do NOT have to be as expensive as they are, and it would be good if these less expensive models helped break the back of the hearing aid charge-all-the-market-can-bear mafia model. Just don’t conflate a super-basic technology like making glasses with a much more difficult (and varied) technology to do well, like hearing aids. Certain types are going to cost more and require the traditional hearing aid centers for good reason.

[William Seger]

14. The behind-the-ear type are $799 a pair at Walgreens -- still not cheap (n/t)

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

21. Apple Airpods

For some types of hearing loss, $250 Apple Airpod Pros will serve the same purpose as more expensive hearing aids. IOS has built in audio accessibility features. Bose has some good ones too around the same price point.

[mackdaddy]

28. Airpods have probably more sophisticated electronics than hearing aids, at a fraction of the cost.

At some point in my distant past, I designed industrial electronics equipment. Hearing aids are basically a microphone a programmable amplifier and tiny speaker in an ear mounted enclosure. Airpods have all of this plus the Bluetooth digital transceivers.

My Dad's hearing aids were right at Ten Thousand dollars 8 years ago. There are some professional services that as someone said are on par with having a prescription for eye glasses done. The put you in a little room or box with headphones and play a tone and you hold your finger up if you hear it. They use it to set the boost for the hearing aid frequency bands. They also help fit the aid to your ear canal. I wear glasses and have had hearing tests done. The eye exam in more involved.

But I have always thought that hearing aids were vastly over priced. Probably a real opening there for an app to run on your iPhone and AirPods to do a hearing test and have them act as hearing aids if it does not already exist.

[OilemFirchen]

23. Despite the naysayers, there are some excellent OTC hearing aids.

I've spent the day researching this and am likely going to order a pair of Lively 2 Plus - made by ReSound. At $1200, they're about a third the price of comparable ReSounds purchased through an audiologist.

Does anyone have experience with these?

[Biophilic]

26. FYI hearing aids do NOT require a doctor's prescription.

Been wearing them for 22 years. Yes they are way too expensive and less expensive ones are a great idea.