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Jeff: Nearly 48 million
Americans have some level of
hearing loss but because of the
high cost of hearing AIDS, many
who need them go without but
that could soon change.
This past week, the F.D.A
cleared the way for hearing AIDS
to be sold over the counter, a
new rule that could expand
access to hearing devices for
unless.
Barbara Kelly, executive
director of the hearing loss
association of America is with
Great to have you with us.
>> Thank you, Jeff.
>> As I understand, only about
30% of people who need hearing
AIDS are getting them and the
biggest limitation has been cost
so how significant is that move
by the F.D.A?
>> It's a huge move.
In fact, 0% of people who could
benefit from hearing AIDS don't
get them.
It's not only cost that stops
people.
Another is the barrier to care.
Where do they go?
It's a murky process and also,
there's stigma.
Some people just don't want to
take that step to treat their
hearing loss because they
associate it with older people
so we are really excited about
this new avenue or this new
pathway opening up.
Adding to the traditional
pathway to care.
Jeff: Does this -- does this
pathway apply to everybody where
hearing loss?
What groups would be most
affected?
>> That's that great question.
It specifically is for adults
with self-per steveed mild to
model rat hearing loss.
Jeff: I've heard people compare
this to going to a CVS or wall
greens and buying a pair of
reader glasses.
Is that a fair comparison?
>> I think it's a good analogy
because before you couldn't get
glasses in your mainly store and
so hearing AIDS will also be
available like the way readers
are.
However, it's really important
to not make that comparison too
literally because if you put
only a pair of glasses they
generally will correct your
vision but when you put on
hearing said -- AIDS, they don't
necessarily correct your
hearing.
Jeff: What are some other
important questions that people
should be asking if they're in
the market for one of these
overthe counter hearing AIDS?
>> First of all, they should
definitely read the box.
We don't know what kind of
products are going to be on the
market now.
We have an idea but it takes
time to get used to a hearing
aid.
Your brain has to adjust, your
audience tori system has to
adjust so people should look
about return policies and one of
the things that our organization
pushed for with the F.D.A were
$45 return policies.
The Pham doesn't have this
jurisdiction.
It's left up to the states or
the mastererers so if there is a
return policy, the manufacturer
has to put it only the box
saying so.
If they don't have a return
policy, there won't be anything
on the box so I think consumers
should definitely look for 245
and if they -- that product
doesn't work for them, they
should try another and if need
be, they they be walking down
the path to see a hearing care
provider.
A hearing loss specialist.
Jennifer: I was surprised in
learning that hearing loss can
affect other aspects of loss.
Hearing loss means a greater
chance of developing dementia.
Give us a sense of the overall
impact of hearing loss on one's
health.
>> Well, through hearing is how
we connect with all our
relationships.
On the job, in our family life
and when that starts to break
down, it interrupt everything.
We like to say there's no such
thing as a small hearing loss
but now we know that untreated
hearing loss is associated with
falls and falls are the number
one reason that older people go
to the energy room.
With isolation.
If you start having a problem
commune indicating because you
can't hear and because you can't
preppiest -- participate, you
start to withdraw and we know
during covid that isolation
leads to depression and anxiety
and there's also a link with
thema so it's really important
that people start considering
hearing health as part of
overall health.
Jennifer: Barbara, thanks again
for your time.
>> Thank you, Jeff, I appreciate
it.