CGH Medical Center issued the following announcement on Nov. 12.
More and more, it’s a DIY world—and soon, that could apply to hearing aids too. A new type of hearing aid lets users fit and adjust the sound settings themselves.
The device, made by Bose, is for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. It’s the first time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a hearing aid that users can fit, program and control on their own. It represents a new treatment choice for certain people with hearing loss, which affects an estimated 37.5 million U.S. adults, according to FDA. Aging, long-term exposure to loud noise and certain medical problems are among the many possible causes of hearing problems.
Wireless control
Users can control the device wirelessly with a smartphone app. It allows you to adjust the function and fit to suit your needs.
FDA reviewed studies involving 125 people before greenlighting the hearing aid. Those studies showed that the device performed about equally well regardless of whether a self-fitting or a professional fitting was done. In addition, the study participants tended to prefer their own settings.
But don’t expect to find the device in drugstores everywhere just yet. Some states have laws that might require hearing aids to be purchased from a licensed dispenser, according to FDA. However, changes may be afoot there too. The agency is drafting new rules that might allow for a new category of hearing aids, like this one, to be sold over the counter.
Shopping for a hearing aid?
Here are some things to know before you take the plunge.
Original source can be found here.
Source: CGH Medical Center
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