Our Priorities 

OTC Hearing Aids

There are currently two main categories of amplification products: (1) hearing aids, which are FDA-regulated products for those with hearing loss; and (2) personal sound amplification products, which are consumer products designed to increase environmental sounds for those with normal hearing. If you are a patient with hearing loss, this difference is crucially important for your health care decision-making.  

Coverage & Access

Patient access to FDA-regulated hearing aids is a key pillar of HAH's mission. Policy solutions for hearing care prioritize safety, effectiveness, and affordability.

Hearing Loss: What You Need to Know

HOW DOES THE EAR WORK?
Hearing is one of our most important senses – but how does it work? It’s a series of events that change sound waves into electrical signals to your brain. ​Learn more.​
wHAT IS HEARING LOSS?
Hearing Loss is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, but most people would be surprised to find out that they have hearing loss! Learn more. 
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE HEARING LOSS?
This can be a hard question to answer and is best decided in consultation with a hearing healthcare professional. But there are a few in-home tests you can use to see if you need to see a hearing care professional. Learn more. 
What is ‘gain’?
And what does it mean in hearing aids? Put simply, Gain is the amount of energy the hearing aid adds to the sound output. If it is not properly set up by a hearing health professional, your hearing aids could do more harm than good! Learn more. 
What is 'output'?
Bipartisan State Attorneys General have issued consumer alerts about the harms of hearing aids  and other products that could be confused for hearing aids that have not been regulated by the FDA.  
HOW DO I KNOW IF HEARING AIDS ARE RIGHT FOR ME?
The decision to get a hearing aid can be difficult – how do you know if you really need one?  Learn more from The Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

CONSUMER ALERT: Beware of Hearing Aid Scams

Bipartisan State Attorneys General have issued consumer alerts about the dangers of hearing aids that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.  
Though hearing aids can be crucial for some Arkansas' daily lives, many devices that are being sold over the counter are not approved by the [FDA] and are nothing more than poor quality sound amplifiers.
-Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
Kentuckians should carefully review claims made by over-the-counter hearing aid sellers. To avoid unnecessary health risks and financial loss, we encourage Kentuckians with a hearing loss to seek professional medical advice.
​-Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron
In this era of new technology and self-service, many innovations bring true improvement to the quality of our lives. [Arizona] Consumers, however, need to be careful before purchasing these products. 
-Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich
If you are looking into such hearing devices, please do your homework to make sure the device actually works and fits your specific needs before spending money on a product that might be worthless.  
-Connecticut Attorney General William Tong

Stakeholders Agree: ​Prioritize Sensible Hearing Device Safety and Effectiveness​

Qualified hearing care professionals have agreed on recommendations for sensible OTC hearing device safety and effectiveness. Download their consensus paper that lays out 5 evidence-based and science-supported priorities for FDA consideration. This paper has been endorsed by the Hearing Industries Association. 

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