A "game-changer" for millions of Americans: You can now buy hearing aids over the counter

A rule change by the US Food and Drug Administration allows adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy hearing aids online or in stores without a prescription – and probably for a lower price – beginning this week.   Experts are calling the move a “game changer” that could affect millions of Americans.   About 1 in 8 people in the US ages 12 and older has hearing loss in both ears, and the rate increases significantly with age. About a quarter of people 65 to 74 have hearing loss, and that number goes up to 50% around age 75.   Only about 16% of the tens of millions of people with hearing loss use a hearing aid, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Some doctors estimate that 90% of the population with hearing loss could benefit from these over-the-counter devices.   Up until now, prices for the devices have varied widely: Large retailers may offer a pair for about $1,400, but some can cost as much as $6,000 per ear, depending on the technology.   With the change, many more companies are expected to enter the market. Experts say that existing manufacturers will also develop lower-cost over-the-counter devices in addition to their current offerings.   And with the rule change, people won’t have to visit a hearing health professional and have a custom fitting, a process that can also be cost-prohibitive.