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Hearing Aid Direct-To-Consumer
Aka: Hearing Aid Direct-To-Consumer, Crystal Ear
- See Also
- Hearing Loss
- Sensorineural Heaing Loss
- Presbycusis
- Home Adaptations for the Elderly
- Indications
- Consult Audiology before any Hearing Aid purchase
- Background
- Various Hearing Aid products have been available OTC
- FDA Reauthorization Act (2017) allows for direct-to-consumer sales of Hearing Aids
- Indicated for mild Hearing Loss
- Best outcomes with a complete audiology evaluation and rehabilitation
- Crystal Ear was available as a mail order product from TechnoBrands (Comtrad) in the 1990s
- Linear conventional analog Hearing Aid (most simple Hearing Aid type_
- Weak amplification in speech range (200-6000 Hz)
- One-size-fits-all device (came with 2 sleeves to help fit to ear canal)
- Court settlement regarding false advertising
- Was not recommended by Medical Letter
- (1998) Med Lett Drugs Ther 40(1028): 62 [PubMed]
- Advantages
- Inexpensive ($200-1000 contrasted with $800-$4000)
- Disadvantages: Direct-To_Consumer Hearing Aids
- May be difficult to handle and place in ear canal
- May not prevent acoustic feedback (occurs when air escapes ear canal)
- Inadequate in noisy environments
- Helps only a minority of persons with Hearing Loss
- Those with mild, flat Hearing Loss
- References
- Michels (2019) Am Fam Physician 100(2): 98-108 [PubMed]