176 - OTC Hearing Aids: The 2% Conundrum. Key Insights and Implications of ASHA's Survey Findings with Dr. Janice Trent

This week, host Andrew Bellavia sits down with Dr. Janice Trent, VP of Audiology Practice at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) to break down the findings of ASHA's survey on over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.

They discuss the surprisingly low adoption rate, with only 2% of individuals interested in OTC hearing aids having purchased them in the past year. The conversation touches on various factors contributing to this trend, such as cost, lack of confidence in device effectiveness, and limited awareness among consumers. Dr. Trent also emphasizes the need for increased education and dispelling misconceptions about hearing aids.

Moreover, they discuss the changing landscape of hearing aid accessibility and how insurance benefits and lower-priced alternatives are altering the market dynamics.

References:
*OTC Hearing Aid Survey: https://www.asha.org/news/2023/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-otcs-1-year-later/
*ASHA OTC Toolkit: https://www.asha.org/aud/otc-hearing-aid-toolkit/

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