Best Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids Of 2023

To determine the best OTC hearing aids, the Forbes Health editorial team consulted several audiologists on the Forbes Health Advisory Board for specific product recommendations based on their years of experience fitting various hearing aid models for a wide array of patients. Each expert was careful to consider the newest technology available in the hearing aid space when providing their recommendations, as well as newer brands and the roles they’re playing in this constantly evolving industry.

Star ratings were then solely determined by the editorial team and are based on the starting price for a pair of hearing aids, the range of hearing loss the devices support, the inclusion of features like Bluetooth compatibility and tinnitus management assistance, battery options and how many audiologists recommended them.

Starting price information is reflected from the device manufacturers themselves. All OTC hearing aids can be self-fitted.

Read more about our hearing aids review methodology.

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are a newly established hearing aid category in the U.S. intended to improve access to and affordability of these medical devices for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. These hearing aids are now available at stores and online retailers (who aren’t required to be licensed sellers) without the need for a medical exam, prescription or fitting adjustment by an audiologist or hearing health professional.

“They’re supposed to have a volume dial, so there’s some user controls,” explains Sreek Cherukuri, M.D., a board-certified ear, nose and throat physician and hearing aid expert. “And the other qualification that’s a little nebulous is they must be FDA-registered hearing aids. When the manufacturer registers with the FDA, there are minimum quality and system regulations [the device must meet].”

How Do OTC Hearing Aids Work?

Similar to prescription hearing aids, OTC hearing aids contain a microphone, amplifier and speaker. The microphone picks up sound and converts it into a digital signal, which is then amplified to increase the strength of that signal. The speaker then sends the amplified signal into the ear, providing a louder and clearer sound for the wearer.

Are OTC Hearing Aids Available?

Various hearing aid manufacturers are joining the OTC hearing aid market with self-fitted hearing aid models that are registered with the FDA. While the FDA doesn’t currently have a published list of these manufacturers, a number of brands currently offer OTC hearing aids at retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Walgreens and online at Amazon and HearUSA.

Audicus, Eargo, Jabra, Lexie, Lively and Sony are all brands to watch as the OTC hearing aid market solidifies, according to Dr. Bailey.

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“We know for sure that OTC hearing aids are for [adults with] perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, not severe (or worse) hearing loss,” says Dr. Cherukuri. “If you have some trouble hearing in crowds or you turn the television [volume] up a little bit, there’s a hearing aid for you in the OTC space.” However, he adds that OTC hearing aids won’t help people in need of stronger hearing assistance, such as those who need people to repeat themselves even in quiet settings or those who can only hear a TV at full volume.

While all adults at least 18 years old with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss are eligible to purchase OTC hearing aids, Dr. Cherukuri notes that older adults specifically are likely to benefit from this new product category, given their need for these devices and future ability to view OTC hearing aid displays at storefronts to learn more about their options.

“When [older adults are] making a large discretionary purchase or maybe a personal purchase like a hearing aid, many of them would prefer an in-person opportunity to look at it before buying it,” he says. “They aren’t shy about driving to a retail store to make a purchase in person. They like to go and talk to somebody.”

If you’re wondering whether your hearing loss might benefit from an OTC hearing aid, here are several signs you may have mild to moderate hearing loss:

• You miss syllables and high-frequency consonants. For example, if someone says, “Let’s go to the pool,” you hear, “Let’s go to school,” or “Let’s go to tool.”
• You frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
• You have trouble understanding when someone whispers to you, such as in a movie theater or auditorium.
• You often confuse similar words. For instance, when someone tells you “15 minutes,” you hear “50 minutes.”
• You’ve started making behavioral modifications, such as sitting closer to a speaker during a weekly lecture or asking your spouse to stop talking to you from another room because you can’t hear them.

OTC hearing aids are intended for adults at least 18 years old with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, states the FDA. Children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss still need to see a hearing health professional for an assessment and an appropriately fitted hearing aid.

There are four general degrees of hearing loss, according to the CDC.

• Mild hearing loss: Individuals with mild hearing loss have difficulty hearing soft sounds but are still able to hear some speech at a normal level.
• Moderate hearing loss: Individuals with moderate hearing loss can hear minimal speech when another person is talking at a normal level.
• Severe hearing loss: Individuals with severe hearing loss are unable to hear another person speaking at a normal level, but they can hear some loud sounds.
• Profound hearing loss: Individuals with profound hearing loss are unable to hear any speech and can only hear very loud sounds.

Other auditory problems may require medical treatment or a more personalized solution from a hearing specialist, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, including:

• Tinnitus, or ringing in one or both ears
• Ear pain or discomfort
• Sudden change or loss of hearing
• History of earwax buildup

How Do I Know if I Need Hearing Aids?

The best way to determine whether you need hearing aids is to visit a hearing health professional, such as an audiologist or ear, nose and throat physician, to complete a full hearing health exam. Based on your results and any symptoms of hearing loss you may be experiencing, they can better determine the specific cause of your hearing loss and recommend the most appropriate treatment, which may include hearing aids.

While specific cost information is not outlined by the FDA, OTC hearing aids are expected to be more affordable than prescription hearing aids, which are often sold bundled with audiology services.

“We expect the consumer marketplace to help determine the cost of OTC hearing aids,” says Dr. Cherukuri. “Where the average price of a prescription hearing aid is $2,300, we expect OTC hearing aids to cost $300 to $1,000 for a pair. So they’re much more affordable. However, they’re not going to be custom programmed for a specific person’s hearing loss, and they won’t necessarily have all the advanced bells and whistles that a prescription product can have.”

The FDA’s final rule regarding OTC hearing aids applies to certain devices that use air-conduction technology, which work by amplifying sound and sending it down the ear canal. This technology is used in most common hearing aids.

Traditional hearing aids are available in five main types, or styles. According to Dr. Cherukuri, consumers can expect to see a range of OTC devices in different styles, with the possibility for more types in the future.

• Behind-the-ear (BTE): A small plastic case hooks behind the ear and delivers sound through a piece of clear tubing to an earmold placed in the ear.
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC): This type of hearing aid is similar to a BTE, but the casing is smaller and more discreet. A very thin wire connects the hearing aid to the ear canal, allowing the ear canal to remain more open. Or, it can be coupled with an ear mold, depending on the severity of hearing loss.
• In-the-ear (ITE): The hearing aid casing holds all parts of the hearing aid and fills most of the outer ear. There are no external tubes.
• In-the-canal (ITC): ITC aids are similar to ITE aids, but they’re smaller and fit directly in the ear canal.
• Completely-in-canal (CIC): CIC aids fit directly in the ear canal like ITC aids, but CIC aids are even smaller and less noticeable.

Where Can You Purchase OTC Hearing Aids?

While the new market is still evolving, you can now purchase OTC hearing aids from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Walgreens, which have plans in place to set up hearing aid sections in their brick-and-mortar stores. You can purchase hearing aids online with these retailers, as well as Amazon and HearUSA. You can also visit websites of the OTC hearing aid manufacturers directly to purchase them online.

Only one in five people who would benefit from a hearing aid uses one, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America^[2]Hearing Loss Facts and Statistics. Hearing Loss Association of America. Accessed 5/5/2023. . Cost, confusion about and access to hearing care, and gradual hearing loss going unrecognized are all reasons for this underutilization. Vanity also plays a role, though hearing aids continue to become smaller and sleeker.

“Having hearing loss is like you’re backing out 10 feet from a conversation,” says John Coverstone, an audiologist in New Brighton, Minnesota, and host of the AudiologyTalk podcast. “People feel more isolated,” he says.

Studies link trouble hearing with serious health consequences. Untreated hearing loss increases your risk of anxiety, depression, social isolation, falls and cognitive decline, research shows.

OTC hearing aids can help address the early stages of hearing loss as a person begins to experience hearing difficulty. By removing multiple barriers to entry—an audiology exam, a prescription and high costs—people can access this type of hearing aid faster and easier than prescription hearing aids, encouraging early intervention and, hopefully, improved health outcomes.

Pros and Cons of Buying Hearing Aids Over the Counter

While OTC hearing aids come with benefits, such as more affordable prices compared to prescription hearing aids, these devices also have a few drawbacks to consider.

Why Do Hearing Aids Matter, and What Happens When Hearing Health is Neglected?

The primary function of hearing aids is to make speech audible for those suffering from hearing loss, says Abram Bailey, a leading expert on hearing aid technology and Forbes Health Advisory Board member. According to the National Institutes of Health, almost 30 million Americans could benefit from the use of hearing aids. Unfortunately, the vast majority go without, either due to accessibility factors like cost, due to stigma or because they don’t feel they have enough of a problem to take action.

If you have hearing loss and fail to take action, there can be repercussions, says Dr. Bailey. Aside from not hearing your best, untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which increases the risk of developing chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia. Untreated hearing loss is also linked to anxiety, depression, dependence on others, lowered confidence and decreased earning potential.

Wearing hearing aids—either prescription hearing aids or OTC hearing aids—can result in some side effects when not sized or used correctly, including:

• Soreness around the ear where the hearing aid sits
• Skin irritation
• Itchiness in the ear canal
• Trouble hearing properly
• Headaches
• Tinnitus
• Excessive feedback from the hearing aid

With OTC hearing aids specifically, incorrect wear could become more common since users aren’t required to see a hearing health professional to first diagnose their specific degree of hearing loss. Users who opt for OTC hearing aids also aren’t required to work with an audiologist to program the devices appropriately for their specific needs, so the potential for user error may be higher than that of prescription hearing aid users.

Hearing loss is an incredibly common medical condition—one of which many people avoid seeking help for due to a fear of how expensive the solution may be. The new OTC hearing aids category has the potential to bridge this care gap.

“I think the OTC hearing aid category is a good thing because it will increase access, especially for those with a more limited budget or who may be hesitant about getting help,” says Dr. Sarow. “There are millions of Americans who could benefit from amplification but are discouraged due to the cost or stigma of hearing aids.”

“I’d much rather see someone try an OTC hearing aid before they go without any treatment,” she adds. “That being said, there are certain requirements for these [hearing aids] to be an effective option. The user needs to fit within the mild to moderate hearing loss category, have some technical skills or someone who can assist with an app on a smartphone, and be self-sufficient in terms of reading information and implementing it (for example, how to put the devices in and how to clean them). As long as these requirements are met, OTC hearing aids can be a great option for someone looking to get their feet wet with hearing technology.”

Dr. Cherukuri offers the following suggestions for those interested in trying OTC hearing aids.

Get an ear exam and take a hearing test to know where you stand. “Hearing loss is the third most common medical condition, and I strongly believe it’s worth having some professional—be it a doctor or audiologist—look in your ears to make sure it’s not simply earwax plugging your ears and contributing to hearing loss,” he says. Hearing tests are especially easy to get, he adds, noting they’re available at a variety of places, almost always covered by insurance under a doctor’s order and sometimes even offered for free. Online hearing tests are also available if you have the right equipment and environment at home, though they may not be as accurate as a test performed by a professional, he says.

Confirm that the manufacturer and specific hearing aid model is registered with the FDA. “The FDA is supposed to do an audit of the manufacturing facilities to make sure they’re following good manufacturing practices (GMPs) because these are medical devices—not simply consumer electronics,” he explains. “Make sure it’s a reputable company following the regulations.”

Look for return policies. The FDA doesn’t mandate that manufacturers of OTC hearing aids accept returns, which has the potential to be problematic, as it’s very common to try several hearing aids before finding the one that works for you, notes Dr. Cherukuri. “In the traditional setting, it’s very common to get a patient to try two or three different models of hearing aids before they decide which one is the best fit—very similar to test driving a car. So it’s very important to read the fine print—including the return policy of the product.”

Shop around. Last but not least, consider your options at in-person retailers offering OTC hearing aids, as well as options at your local hearing aid clinic or audiology office. “You’ll be surprised by the very little difference in price at some clinics where you can get a fully customized instrument with an audiologist or doctor helping you along the way,” says Dr. Cherukuri. “Hearing aid clinics are going to compete in the OTC market as well.

Depending on the type of hearing aid you’re looking to purchase, you can shop online for the best solution for you.

Now that OTC hearing aids are approved by the FDA, manufacturers with FDA-registered devices can sell them directly to consumers, as can retailers partnering with these manufacturers. For example, Best Buy, Walmart and Walgreens already offer a number of hearing aids for sale, and a number of options are available online at Amazon and HearUSA.

Where to Buy the Cheapest OTC Hearing Aids

Many retailers sell OTC hearing aids at affordable prices, including:

Walgreens. This nationwide drugstore chain sells hearing aids online and in stores with prices ranging from $199 to $999 per pair. Brands available include Lexie, Go Hearing and HearingAssist.

CVS. This drugstore chain offers a variety of OTC hearing aids online and in person with prices ranging from $169.99 to $999.95 per pair. Brands available include Lexie, Lucid Hearing, iHear and more.

Walmart. Customers can find a variety of OTC hearing aid models on Walmart and Sam’s Club websites with prices starting as low as $169. Brands available include Lexie, Lucid Hearing, HearingAssist and more.

Best Buy. This retailer offers hearing aids online and in person with prices ranging from $199.99 to $2,650. Brands available include Lexie, Sony, Jabra, Lucid Hearing and more.

As you learn about the various types of hearing aids and their optional features and technologies, know that there are several important steps to take before making a purchase.

Get a hearing health examination. Even though an exam isn’t required to purchase OTC hearing aids, confirm with a hearing health professional (such as an audiologist) that you do, in fact, have hearing loss that can be addressed with a hearing aid and the specific degree to which you’re experiencing hearing loss so you can explore hearing aid products designed for your situation.

Ask about a hearing aid trial period. When speaking with a retailer about its OTC hearing aid options, ask if you can test them out for a given period of time to make sure they are the best fit for you.

Ask about the full capabilities of the hearing aid. Even if you only have moderate hearing loss now, that may change in the future, and hearing aids are expensive. Rather than planning for an additional purchase down the line, ask about hearing aid options that are capable of addressing your needs now and also offer adjustable settings to treat more significant levels of hearing loss in the future.

Gather warranty information. Most OTC hearing aids come with warranties on parts. Make sure you’re happy with the level of coverage the warranties provide.

OTC hearing aids are designed to meet the needs of adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The self-fitting hearing aids available on the market today, like Jabra Enhance Plus and Lexie Powered by Bose, are all capable of meeting the needs of someone with mild to moderate hearing loss, so it really comes down to your preferences on style and comfort, says Dr. Bailey.

The Lexie hearing aids fit behind the ear, with a small speaker resting in the ear canal. These [devices] will be super comfortable and easy to wear all day long. They will also leave your ear canals open, meaning no boomy voice or strange sounds while you’re chewing. The Jabra hearing aids are more stylish and look like typical Jabra wireless earbuds. They’re exceptionally small and even offer wireless audio streaming from your iPhone, something Bose [Lexie] does not, explains Dr. Bailey.