Why Choosing Professional Hearing Care is Vital to Your Health

Hearing loss is not a one-size-fits-all condition.

It is critical to your overall health to seek out a hearing healthcare professional versus over-the-counter hearing aids. Every hearing loss is as unique as the individual. With different types of hearing loss and levels of complexity, the safest, most effective treatment is to seek the help of a licensed hearing healthcare professional.

Hearing healthcare professionals are trained to identify hearing loss conditions and provide customized treatment that addresses your specific hearing needs and lifestyle. Hearing aids, if needed, are FDA-regulated, properly fitted, and programmed by the professional. Follow-up sessions help ensure your hearing stays optimal and are often included in the cost of the hearing aids.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids are a “one-size-fits-all” treatment meant for mild-to-moderate hearing loss that do not address specific or complex hearing needs. With the absence of proper regulations for OTC hearing aids, many being sold are unregulated, low-quality amplification devices. Unfortunately, these can cause further hearing damage and pose health risks by delaying professional treatment.

Health risks include declining emotional and overall health; impaired memory and learning difficulties; reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety; social withdrawal; anxiety, stress, depression, and fatigue; and decreased job performance.

The harmful effects of OTC hearing aids have not gone unnoticed. Today, attorney generals of more than 17 U.S. states have issued consumer warnings about these devices (see state map below to view warnings).

Healthy hearing is vital to your overall health, emotional well-being, and quality of life. Get the individual treatment you need – book an appointment with one of our hearing healthcare professionals today.

Starkey Advocates for OTC Regulations and Hearing Health

Watch Starkey leadership explain the global hearing technology company’s Listen Carefully initiative.

States Speaking Out Against Improper OTC Marketing and Sales

Click a dark gray state to read their attorney general’s consumer warning on OTC hearing aids.

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