FDA Issues the Final Rule for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
On August 16, the FDA issued a final rule for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and how they will be sold to consumers. This is a big day for those with mild to moderate hearing loss as many more affordable hearing aid options will become available within the control of the consumer themselves.
This is a long-awaited FDA rule and couldn’t come soon enough for millions of Americans who have put off buying or even considering a hearing aid due to costs.
To get all your answers to your questions and to learn more, please visit the HLAA OTC site.
Google Maps has recently begun including hearing loops in the accessibility information on its website. This has received little notice from the national media or hearing loss–related entities but, for the hard of hearing, this is important news. A national database of looped venues has been a goal of hearing loop advocates for years and it’s finally becoming a reality. This action, a joint undertaking of the Get in the Hearing Loop Committee (GITHL) of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and Google Maps, is the latest example of the growing awareness and availability of hearing loops in public places.
Check out this feel-good story about how a simple act of providing a hearing aid to someone in need can dramatically change their lives. Thanks to Starkey Cares, they helped make a huge and positive impact for Branden Thibodeau, a Special Olympics softball player.
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) has an annual fundraiser and raising awareness for hearing loss event called 
We had a wonderful chapter social gathering this spring to celebrate the CODA movie. Many of those who attended had not seen each other since pre-pandemic so it was a much-needed time together. After some pre-movie good food and appetizers, we all enjoyed a truly enlightening and magical movie. Although the movie does focus on the deaf community, we do hope it will also raise awareness for those with hearing loss.
