Free to read. No paid listings. Not medical advice. How this site works
Hearing aids, 2026
Since October 2022, adults can buy hearing aids without an exam. Here is who that suits.
FDA and hear.com, read Oct 2, 2026. See source
| If you are asking | Start with | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden change in hearing, or one ear worse? | See a professional before buying OTC | Warning signs |
| Mild trouble with conversation or TV? | OTC aids are made for this range | Read the guide |
| Want a fitting and follow-up? | Fitted aids, $1,599 to $5,150 at hear.com | See prices |
The FDA created the over-the-counter hearing aid category for adults 18 and older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It went into effect on October 17, 2022. OTC hearing aids can be bought in a store or online without seeing an ear, nose and throat doctor or a hearing professional1.
The warning signs on the box. OTC packaging must warn buyers to see a professional first if the ear has a birth defect or unusual shape, if there was blood, pus or fluid from the ear in the past 6 months, if hearing changed suddenly in the past 6 months, or if one ear hears worse than the other. The FDA also says an OTC aid may not suit someone who does not hear loud sounds well1.
| Model | Tier | Listed price | Listed life expectancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon 7IX (2026)2 | Premium | $5,150 | 4 to 6 years |
| Horizon 5IX2 | Mid-level | $4,650 | 4 to 6 years |
| Horizon 1IX2 | Essential | $1,599 | 4 to 6 years |
| Horizon 7AX (2023)2 | Premium | $3,975 | 3 to 5 years |
| Horizon 3AX (2023)2 | Mid-level | $2,975 | 3 to 5 years |
Read October 2, 2026. hear.com says its prices reflect insurance discounts and may vary with promotions, and lists a 45-day no-risk trial and a 3-year repair warranty. The page we read does not say whether a price is for one device or a pair; ask before you buy.
How these links work: each button opens the provider's own site and earns us nothing today. This site is not a medical provider; nothing here is medical advice.
Good for a professionally fitted aid with a trial period
Also on hear.com's site
Any of them means seeing a professional before buying OTC.
A test shows whether the loss is in the mild to moderate range OTC aids are made for.
Price, trial length, follow-up visits and repair coverage.
We do not earn anything from sign-ups today: every provider link is a plain link to the provider's own site, without a referral code. This site is not a medical provider and nothing on it is medical advice; talk to a qualified clinician about your own health.
ElderCompass Guide is not a care provider, placement agency or medical provider, and nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to a qualified clinician about health questions.
Costs are published medians or list prices on the date we read them. The provider's or community's own page, contract and written quote are the final word on price and terms.
