Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids | NIDCD
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Improving hearing health care for adults in the United States is an urgent public health problem, and contributing to solutions is a priority for NIDCD. Approximately 15 percent of American adults, or 37.5 million people, report some degree of hearing loss. For many of these individuals, assistive technologies such as hearing aids could significantly improve their quality of life, yet only about one in four of those who could benefit from hearing aids has ever used them.| NIDCD
Otosclerosis is a term derived from oto, meaning “of the ear,” and sclerosis, meaning “abnormal hardening of body tissue.” The condition is caused by abnormal bone remodeling in the middle ear. Bone remodeling is a lifelong process in which bone tissue renews itself by replacing old tissue with new. In otosclerosis, abnormal remodeling disrupts the ability of sound to travel from the middle ear to the inner ear. Otosclerosis affects more than three million Americans. Many cases of oto...| NIDCD
LISTEN UP! PROTECT YOUR HEARING. To protect your hearing, use earplugs — and try to avoid loud noises.| NIDCD
Hearing depends on a series of complex steps that change sound waves in the air into electrical signals. Our auditory nerve then carries these signals to the brain. Also available: Journey of Sound to the Brain, an animated video.| NIDCD
Hearing protectors are wearable devices that can lower the intensity of sound that enters your ears.| NIDCD
Want to use this widget on your website or blog? It's simple! Just follow these instructions to add the Hearing Test Widget to your own website.| NIDCD
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The United States marks a significant milestone in advancing hearing health care, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its final rule establishing guidelines for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. This landmark rule, released on August 16, 2022, is part of a broader effort to expand access to high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. OTC hearing aids are intended to address perceived mild to moderate hearing loss in people 18 or older. Now, millions of adults who h...| NIDCD
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An official website of the United States government| NIDCD
This site provides general information on hearing aids including benefit and safety information, types and styles, how to get and buy a hearing aid, and use with cell phones. It also discusses hearing loss and products and procedures to improve hearing.| U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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