Hearing loss is a major global issue. Around 5% of the world population, 430 million, have disabling hearing loss. With ageing populations, this burden will only increase. The primary remedy is the simple hearing aid. It is an essential helpmate to ensure continued social contact and quality of life. Simple, but not necessarily cheap. They…

U.S. retailers began selling over-the-counter hearing aids on Oct. 17, 2022, a long-awaited move that some experts predict could be a game-changer in making these devices accessible and affordable. A prescription is no longer needed, nor is a visit to a doctor or even a fitting appointment with a hearing specialist. Instead, Americans can purchase…

Many people slowly lose their hearing as they get older. Not being able to hear well can make it hard to communicate. That can affect your relationships, emotional well-being, and work performance. For those who need them, hearing aids can help. These electronic devices are worn in or behind the ears. They make sounds louder….

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday finalized regulations to make available hearing aids to millions of Americans without them requiring to see a doctor. The FDA’s move comes years after President Donald Trump signed the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017, which would create a new category of hearing aids and replace state-level regulations…

The phone started ringing at about 2 a.m. I think I picked it up with the second ring. It was the hospital, and I was needed. Not an emergency, but urgently. I got up, grabbed socks, scrubs, and my lucky “surgery shoes” before washing up and kissing my now wide awake wife goodbye. I was…