OTC Hearing Aids Are Changing the World: 👆 Here's Why and Their Pros and Cons

Рет қаралды 16,106

Күн бұрын

HearingTracker audiologist Matthew Allsop provides a quick but comprehensive overview of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, including what they are, who they’re suited for, and how you can use a free online hearing test to see if you're a candidate.
Stay tuned for an audiologist's perspective on the half-dozen OTC hearing aids currently on the market, what they cost, and the “pros and cons” of this new class of hearing aids. Also reviewed are some of the most important recent scientific studies that show why it’s so important to address hearing loss and why improving your hearing-either through professionally fitted or OTC devices-might help avert risk of social isolation, mental decline, and even possibly dementia.
Note: In retrospect, it seems very unlikely that the FDA will backtrack OTC hearing aids, as they factored in the possibility that some consumers may miss medical issues when treating their own hearing loss when deciding to make OTC hearing aids legal. They feel that with adequate labeling the risks to consumers are minimal and that the pros of increased accessibility outweigh the small chance of medical risks.
Best OTC Hearing Aids: www.hearingtracker.com/otc-he...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:59 What are OTC Hearing Aids
02:16 Do OTC Hearing Aids Help Everyone?
04:00 What do OTC Hearing Aids Cost?
05:24 Are OTC Hearing Aids Suitable for me?
07:27 Online Hearing Tests
08:27 Why Early Intervention is SO important
10:24 Pros of OTC Hearing Aids
11:16 Cons of OTC Hearing Aids
Online hearing test: www.hearingtracker.com/hearin...
Mimi for Android: play.google.com/store/apps/de...
Mimi for iPhone: apps.apple.com/us/app/mimi-he...
Buy Products Discussed:
Bose: hearingtrack.com/bose-yt
Eargo: hearingtrack.com/eargo-6-yt
Sony: hearingtrack.com/sony-cre-c10-yt
Jabra: hearingtrack.com/jabra-yt
HP: hearingtrack.com/hp-hearing-pro
Learn More:
Disclaimer: HearingTracker independently reviews products and services. When you buy through our links or using our discount codes, we may earn a commission.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew Allsop is the Video Content Manager at Hearingtracker.com. He practices from his London-based practice, Harley Street Hearing. You can get in touch on matthew@hearingtracker.com regarding new content ideas or to become a patient.
#hearing #hearingloss #hearingaids _____________________________________________________________________
Buy Hearing Tech:
Sony CRE-C10 OTC Hearing Aids: www.hearingtrack.com/best-buy...
Jabra Enhance Plus OTC Hearing Aids: www.hearingtrack.com/enhance-...
Eargo 7 OTC Hearing Aids: www.hearingtrack.com/eargo-7-yt
Eargo 7 OTC Free Sample: www.hearingtrack.com/eargo-fr...
Loop Earplugs: www.hearingtrack.com/loop-yt
Lexie B2 (powered by Bose) OTC Hearing Aids: www.hearingtrack.com/bose-yt
Eargo 6 OTC Hearing Aids: www.hearingtrack.com/eargo-6-yt
Audicus OTC hearing Aids: www.hearingtrack.com/audicus-yt
_____________________________________________________________________

Пікірлер: 69

@dylanmorris8638 Жыл бұрын

Great video. I worked in concert production for 15 years and I would almost never wear hearing protection. Now in my late 40s I am paying and paying and paying for it. I have tried everything from $50 hearing amplifiers to $1,000 sony otc aides. From the top brands I have tried Sony, Lexi Bose, and Hp hearing pro. The Sony are good but they are so light when they fall out of your ear you have no idea and they are very easy to lose. The Lexie Bose B1 or B2 I preferred to be one because I actually like the replaceable batteries. When you work 18 hours a day unless you have the second pair you are going to have to go without so you can charge them. The HP Hearing Pro are hands-down the best OTC hearing aid I have tried. This town quality is amazing. The only negative is they last four to six hours if you are streaming Bluetooth. But at $700 a pair I got two of them. I can charge one pair while I am wearing the others. It takes about 1 hour to get a full charge in the charging case. So my backup hair is always fully charged well before the pair I am wearing runs out of battery. With the memory foam ear tips even with their size of weight I don't know im wearing them., since they look like regular earbuds and added advantage is if you don't want to talk to anybody you could just tell them you're on the phone. With the Saudi and the bows I had them at their highest volume and wish I had more. With the HP im at about 60% volume. If you purchase them from Best Buy they give you a 90-day return would do so you can try them make sure you like or don't like them and have plenty of time to return them since it takes approximately a month to get adjusted to them. The OTC have only been available for I believe a year maybe two I cannot wait to see the technology in two more years. The only thing that is better than being able to hear again is being able to take them out and not hear the trash trucks going down my alley when I'm trying to sleep. I actually feel as if I have an advantage over a person without hearing loss. I hope you find this helpful.

@HearingTracker 11 ай бұрын

Wow Dylan thank you for sharing! I’m absolutely sure that others will find this useful, especially from someone who’s tried the lot. Take care, Matthew

@williamwaters4506 10 ай бұрын

I am in the US and there are already cheap hearing devices on the market. However, there is also a lot of competition from the major hearing aid makers and prices are dropping. I am shocked that in the UK people can get free hearing devices yet do not bother.

@NJintheImagination Жыл бұрын

One of my major concerns here in the US is that audiologists who evaluate hearing and prescribe for hearing aids also sell hearing aids. This practice should be stopped as it is a financial conflict of interest. As with eyeglasses , you should get a prescription and then get it filled anywhere you like, on line or through a brick and mortar retailer.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey NJintheimagination. I see where you're coming from to an extent but is that not the same in every industry? The optician still wants to sell you a set of glasses, the surgeon you see before an operation wants to sell you an operation, the kitchen designer you see wants to sell a kitchen. As long as all of them are giving good advice and acting ethically I'm not sure I find that it's an issue. I'd be keen to hear your feedback on my thoughts. It's really great to hear your ideas on this. Thanks for watching, Matthew

@NJintheImagination Жыл бұрын

@@HearingTracker Opticians make and sell glasses but they do not prescribe. That is limited to optometrists and ophthalmologists, who cannot, at least where I live, also sell glasses. You take your prescription to an optician, or optical store. That is the model audiologists should be following, IMHO

@lauraspaeth6130 Жыл бұрын

@@HearingTracker I worked in a family-owned Optical office. They are very ethical people, but the Medicare reimbursement rate for an exam from an OD is so low that they cannot keep a private practice open on that alone. Almost all the profit margin goes into selling glasses. While skilled, opticians do have pressure to upsell and sell multiple pairs. The mark-up is insane. Less than 5% of the insurances we saw would cover more than a couple hundred dollars of a thousand dollar sale. So even with the best of intentions, the ethics can get slippery in the US. You'll see threads on Reddit trying to figure out the business models for ODs and AuD's. We don't know if we can trust that the provider isn't buying their Mercedes on the mark-ups for Glasses/Hearing aids. There's a big trust gap.

@deankrause Жыл бұрын

@@HearingTracker Acting Ethically is the key. Over the past decades, I have observed this very thing eroded in medicine, politics, law, and most egregiously in Science. Each of these are susceptible to the frailties of humans. Greed, ego, or merely "being right", have perverted each of these fields, as well as many others. Archaeology is the one I am most familiar with, and I can tell you that the corner stone of following the evidence is definitely not being followed.

@meric12131415 Жыл бұрын

@@HearingTracker agreed

@davidcannington6914 Жыл бұрын

Matthew, one of the best videos I have seen clarifying the confusion around OTC. Well done and keep up the great work.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hi David, I’m really pleased that you found it useful! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Matthew

@richstewart1 Жыл бұрын

I have moderate to severe hearing loss. Tested every year at work. Been that way for years. Ten years or so ago I got a pair of Zon behind the ear aids. Hated them. 6,000 dollars for the pair. I wear glasses and ride a motorcycle and they were a serious pain taking them off and on. I realized I was missing a lot so I thought I would try out some in ear. I got a 177.00 pair from a company called Audious (sp). I was having some problems with them until I learned to adjust the sound level. I turn them all the way down and insert them. I slowly turn them up until I begin to hear a hiss. then turn them down until I no longer hear the hiss. I really like them now. I turn them up just enough to where I don't hear paper crinkling and refrigerators running. I'm very happy with them. They took several weeks to be delivered and I know they came out of China. When one stopped working I wrote the company and they sent me a new pair no charge. Another couple weeks, but it showed the customer service was there. Having these have made me think about getting an upgrade but for now, I'm good.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Richard, that’s super to hear that you’ve found something that works for you. Gosh tech has changed a lot since Zon! Keep up the good work. Thanks for watching,Matthew

@geocape7060 Жыл бұрын

OTC hearing aids are a great idea. Many more people will be helped because of it. For me personally, I would rather have You fit me.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Haha! Thanks as always Geo! Matthew

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Have you tried an OTC hearing aid yet? Matthew

@alecward1626 Жыл бұрын

I'm 77 and from UK. My hearing loss has been getting progressively worse for the last 5 years but I convinced myself it was ear wax and every few months tried to do something about it. I knew that UK health service provides free hearing aids but admit that whenever I saw somebody wearing one and then thought of me wearing one the first word which came into my mind was 'decrepit' 2-years ago I began to think that may be the answer to my self image problem would be an earbud type. I did quite a lot of searching but couldn't find anything so carried on regardless. Some months ago I again searched for earbud type hearing aids and came across hearing tracker website which I have to say, as a keen internet user, is brilliant 💯. I made an appointment, saw an audiologist which confirmed mild hearing loss and have taken advantage of the uk free traditional one, What changed my mind was simply by hearing your comments that the well-known big organisations were getting in on the act and agreeing with you that there is bound to be a huge improvement in the technology in ear bud type hearing aids within the next year or so at which point I will buy such a device. In the meantime I hide my traditional 'decrepit' device under my woolly hat😉.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hi Alec, thank you for taking the time to comment! It brings me great delight to hear that the work that we're doing is encouraging people out there to manage their hearing loss. I'm pleased that it's getting colder in the UK now which will look a little less strange than wearing a woolly hat in the Summer! Thanks for watching, Matthew

@anthonydavies9093 Жыл бұрын

Alec, what aids did the NHS offer? Did you have a choice? I am going through the process now. Just struggling to get an appointment

@alecward1626 Жыл бұрын

@@anthonydavies9093 I made an appointment to see the nurse at my local health centre who confirmed it wasn't wax and made an appointment for me to see local audiologist (I chose spec savers from list of 6) They gave me a test as to hearing loss and confirmed the left was worse than the right. I was supplied foc with traditional behind the ear device. However I haven't been to an outside event with a loop system so I've hardly used them, but I have bought headphones which are more convenient when listening to videos / audiobooks.

@anthonydavies9093 Жыл бұрын

@@alecward1626 thanks for the info. I went to my local Boots and have moderate loss in the right ear. They were suggesting Phonak Audeo Lumity which are an eye watering £2,500 for one. I doubt the NHS would offer those, but don’t really know. They also said that they are more or less disposable, in that after the 4 year warranty period, most people would buy another unit, partly because repairs would be chargeable and partly because the technology would most likely have moved significantly

@alecward1626 Жыл бұрын

@@anthonydavies9093 I didn't go to boots as they weren't on the list of audiologists recommended by NHS. Originally I wasn't going to get an NHS behind the ear due to vanity, but I'm glad I did even though as I've said I hardly use it. But as hearing tracker is pointing out orgs like Google, meta, HP are now getting in on the act and the technology is moving on very quickly. I've seen 'hearing amplifier' earbuds which have language translation facilities. Another year and I think the technology will be so advanced and competition should have bought the price down that I will then think of purchasing an ear bud

@carlacorral5992 Жыл бұрын

Some great things to think about for OTC hearing aids. Many thanks as always😊

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Carla 😊🫵

@lauraspaeth6130 Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for doing these in depth videos. I was raised to believe the US healthcare system was the best for patients, but as a former EMT with moderate hearing loss, I can say confidently this is not true. I wish we had the NHS like you! I’ve had audiograms, which are often covered by insurance. But never in my life could I afford hearing aids, or even a stethoscope that would work for me. It’s truly depressing, and after having Covid, my hearing has worsened with no signs of improvement AND the tinnitus is as louder than most things in my environment. I’m losing social interaction skills, and quality of life. I’m a musician who can’t enjoy a concert anymore, or hear if my instrument is in tune. OTC hearing aids has given me some hope to get that back. I pray we will be able to save up enough for good ones. I tried Shokz bone conduction headphones and heard things I haven’t heard since childhood. Is there any OTC option that will work like that? As far as I could find, hearing aids using bone conduction are for those with cochlear implants.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Laura, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I'm hoping that the world of OTCs helps you! In my head, thats the main reason for this big shake up. BC hearing aids are for a conductive hearing loss, and so I doubt that would be right for you. If its a typical age related loss then it may be worth trying something like the Lexie B2 and I believe they have a return period. There's nothing to lose. Let me know how you get on, Matthew

@lauraspaeth6130 Жыл бұрын

@@HearingTracker Thanks so much Matthew for the advice. As a update, I am currently going through a many-months long process where I may be able to get completely-covered government-funded hearing aids. Unfortunately, my audiogram done recently made my Rx greater than OTC's can handle. Because I am now "disabled" due to the hearing loss (which is genetic and injury-related according to the AuD) - and it makes it hard and sometimes impossible to do my job - there's a limited government program that will consider buying you hearing aids to keep you in the workforce and off the social security welfare roles. There's a decent chance I may get to choose between the latest Phonak and Oticon BTE models. What would you recommend a musician with ADD, anxiety and moderate-severe hearing loss? I and others like me would LOVE a video addressing best hearing aids for musicians hint hint lol. My AuD is great, but there's not really good information available for live-music settings and musicians. It's quite loud for us for most genres, but I miss complete sections of the orchestra or say the acoustic guitar in the band. We need to protect ourselves from further injury, but we also need to hear what the heck is going on :)

@czrnk Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video and resources! Five years I was diagnosed and bought Resound hearing aids (along with ongoing support) for $6K US. They have been fine but my warranty is up and my hearing specialist wants me upgrade (hasn't given me a price). I was told that my hearing loss is 'severe' and that OTC isn't going to work. (why?), I would like to try seeing that their price is so much less. Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids and the only thing that will reduce costs and increase quality in the US is competition. My hearing aids have a bit of control but the settings are locked down by my audiologist. If I need any changes it requires a trip (30 miles) to my audiologist. There needs to be a better (and cheaper) solution, I am retired.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Paul. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Im not a big fan of locked hearing aids and wouldn't do that. Can you ask them to unlock them? They're your property no? Matthew

@miasgreyling1830 Жыл бұрын

How do i go about doing the test you spoke off

@KaitlinPiaskoski Жыл бұрын

Great points and discussion. Curious, are you familiar with SHOEBOX Audiometry?

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Kaitlin, yes I am, its a great concept. Thanks for watching, Matthew

@AntonioIndelicato Жыл бұрын

I am definitely fed up of dealing with healthcare professionals. Every single thing I had to go there. That is an adjustment or whatever. Many times not satisfying my needs making me feel so frustated and uncomfy. I do think those professionals are only greedy for money. And hearing is not luxury!!! It’s something we seriously need. I hope OTC hearing aids will be the new road to us, making things easier and cheaper. Fortunately technology is and will help us more in the future.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hi Antonio, thank you for sharing your feedback and I'm sorry that your experiences have been as such. Hopefully you'll reach the level of hearing that you're after. Matthew

@70rayrich Жыл бұрын

I am 52 and have meniere's disease i cannot hear on my right side but my left is almost normal im losing some high tones and have ringing, i see my ear doc once a year. My biggest problem is in crowded restaurants..anywhere there's a large group of people. My ear doc had me test many hearing aids but the price was on average 6k and not covered by any insurance and not something I would use everyday. I'm hoping to find ear buds that can help, I have tried my son's apple buds, live listen and was impressed, I have a android phone so still looking.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Ray, thats great thank you for sharing your experiences. I hope it works well for you. Matthew

@EpitomeofALady22 Жыл бұрын

Just got ordered an ear amplifier. Recently experiencing hearing loss in both ears due to an infection and perforatation in the tympanic membrane of both ears. I will also see if the hearing aid I use in one ear can have the volume increased. Hoping the hearing loss is temporary along with the Tinnitus. Time will tell. Otherwise I will need two hearing aids. #twoweeksin #age56

@WayneStidolph 7 ай бұрын

I'm hoping the OTC market and product R&D effort gets medical-grade HA makers and audiologists to provide more advanced controls (and education) for end users, so we can be tested and basically set up sensibly by the audiology clinic, but we can then tune to our situation/preferences in between audiology appts. Present (2023) apps seem to offer very dumbed-down controls compared to what the aids are capable of ...

@lauralulu4444 Жыл бұрын

Yeah my main worry about OTC aids is that medical reasons for hearing loss could be missed. My loss is from a damaged ear drum and I don't think OTC aid apps would pick up on that. But I do hope that OTC get more regulated over the years. also, I don't get this obsession with hiding hearing aids. It might be weird, but I actually wish my Widex aid was more visible. I'm 24 so strangers don't tend to believe me if I say I have a hearing loss and wear an aid. I'm apparently "too young" for hearing loss. To have a concert security guard not believe you is quite scary. (I thought the aid set off the metal detector but it was actually my belt)

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Laura Lulu, yes I agree completely. It is one of my big concerns. Interestingly one of the OTC manufacturers wrote to us about this saying that I shouldn't have raised it as an issue as it's scaremongering! Thanks for watching, Matthew

@nickg2027 Жыл бұрын

I have been diagnosed to need a pair of hearing aids, would you wait to see how the OTC battle commences? I have had an audiologist hearing test and want to get something that is cost effective but also "cooler" looking, but as its my first pair I am hoping that I get to know their value rather than spend 3k straight away ( I hope I don't offend and that you understand where I am coming from). I am also thinking about buying a pair of AirPod Pro's to start my journey, any advice would be greatly received. Also like the look of the Customs by Resound as an avenue to explore, I know these are polar opposite on the price scale?? I enjoy your videos, the advice is non biased and honest. thank you

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Nick, thanks for your positive feedback. I think that theres no harm in trying something like airpod pros as a starting point. Check out my set up video on the channel. Of course I dont think that you'll be able to beat a well programmed pair of prescription hearing aids, with the right care from a good audiologist, but that depends on budget too. THE most important thing is to do something instead of nothing. Thanks for watching, Matthew

@MrGHenchel Жыл бұрын

I’ve tried very expensive hearings aids a couple of times and I did not enjoy the experience. Yes I could hear more but most of the extra sound was noise I didn’t want to hear. My own voice was robotic. For $7000 the experience was not something I was prepared to do. I

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Greame, it will always be an overwhelming experience to start off with. Sadly its part of the acclimatisation process. Stick with it. Thanks for watching, Matthew

@gaylabarre2736 Жыл бұрын

I have been to an audiologist had my hearing tested and was told yes you do have tinnitus. But your hearing is fine and all hearing aides will do is make everything louder. Plus they are expensive so they did not recommend them. I was told to learn to live with it. So I can ignore it most of the time except when there is competitive hearing involved. If someone is trying to talk to me in a loud group or several devises are playing at the same time. Which honestly probably bothers everyone. I would like to be able to hear complete silence and cannot really remember what that sounds like anymore. Fortunately I have a dog that can hear way more than I can so she is kind enough to alert me when necessary. I do have ear phones that help when I am watching my iPad shows but I have earwax issues from time to time if I use them too often for a long time. Are you sure there isn’t anything else one could do besides hearing aides?

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Gay, check out my video next week on the new Sennheizer Conversation Clear plus. This may be something right up your street. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, Matthew

@MSRez95 Жыл бұрын

I’ve tried the Jabra enhance plus and returned them. Not loud enough for me and no multi point connection. Am currently trying out Nuheara QBuds2 and so far they are ok. Don’t like the battery life and their size is a bit too big for smaller sized ears. I don’t like the whistle sound that comes out of them sometimes when I increase the volume. Wondering if anyone else gets this sound and how to get rid of it. Gonna give them a week or two before I decide to keep them or not.

@jerometinay9044 Жыл бұрын

try to cut the tissue and put it under the sleeves.

@CrusadersArmory Жыл бұрын

With gain > 40 and OSP > 100 silicone ear molds are the way to stop feedback. Keep your hands away and avoid reflective surfaces.

@kevinduffy2475 Жыл бұрын

It sounds like you need prescription for hearing aids from an audiologist who uses best practices.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey MS, it's great to hear your feedback thank you. Hopefully others can talk about their experience too. Thanks for watching, Matthew

@brianvandy4002 Жыл бұрын

My joy in OTC, is without insurance there is no way I could afford hearing aids. In order for insurance to cover hearing aids, hearing loss needs to be over 40%. I'm only at 20%, a noticible amount, but they won't cover them. Now I can afford to get OTC hearing aids with a modest audio profile manager for a very reasonable price as Amazon offers low end amplifiers with programmable audio diagram for under $200 a pair. Yes, it might not be as good as a $4000 set of hearing aids, but it's better than nothing.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hey Brian, check out the OTCs rather than a basic amplifier. I would love to know if it helps. Matthew

@atobpe Жыл бұрын

At the age of 72, I have mild to moderate hearing loss. My biggest objection to hearing aids is that they are a royal pain in the neck. The reason being 1) battery life, 2) ear wax plugging the hearing aid, and 3) squealing and other adjustments factors. I took care of my mother with her hearing aids about five years ago and spent too much time changing batteries, cleaning the devices, and toting her back and forth to the audiologist's office. Not to mention looking for them (she could not remember where she placed them or one would fall out and she would not realize it).

@CrusadersArmory Жыл бұрын

1. rechargable batteries. 2 OTC Cortisone creams contain an exfolient. /apply and carefully remove. Keep a wire for cleaning the tube. .4 Make ear molds!!! Domes do not give 'nuff acoustic seal. Use a hearing aid harness!!

@monicaoizumi4446 Жыл бұрын

How about OTC bi cross hearing aids? What are your thought about it?

@kevinduffy2475 Жыл бұрын

Tech companies want to sell high volumes. BiCROS is a small market inside an already small market. It won’t happen. People who need a CROS or BiCROS need medical clearance and management. It’s a tougher hearing loss to deal with and manage. It needs to be left in the hands of the professionals.

@monicaoizumi4446 Жыл бұрын

@@kevinduffy2475 Thanks for your professional insight on this matter.

@HearingTracker Жыл бұрын

Hi Monica, thank you for taking the time to comment. I agree with Kevin on this one for the time being. Perhaps this is something that we’ll see in the future but I don’t expect to see it anytime soon. Thanks for watching and make sure that you subscribe to find out if and when BICROS solutions are available, Matthew

@monicaoizumi4446 Жыл бұрын

@@HearingTracker I´m subscribed now. Thank you Matthew!

@andywilliams9240 Жыл бұрын

Your videos are the most informative and educational for someone with recent sudden hearing loss, but please PLEASE drop the Americanisms. Garbage. Cell phones. Please stop! Thank you 😊

@HearingTracker 11 ай бұрын

Thanks Andy, it’s a vid for a US audience as OTC is currently only relevant over there 😊. Noted though! Thanks for watching. Matthew

@andywilliams9240 11 ай бұрын

@@HearingTracker Yh I realised that after... My bad! Don't let my criticism take away from the fact that your videos have helped me massively since I lost my hearing in Feb, so really appreciated it. Keep it up and I look forward to more content!

@HearingTracker 11 ай бұрын

@@andywilliams9240 that’s really kind of you to say. I’m so sorry to hear that, if there’s any more advice that you need you know where I am!!! Matthew

@seanhaynes8758 Жыл бұрын

As someone with moderate hearing loss at 57 years of age I'm not spending money to support an audiologist lifestyle. It is no different to getting a pair of glasses or if you're lucky enough to find one, a dentist. Anything head related is a license to print money and invariable a rip off. I will be going down the OTC route. As someone who has a 20 year tech background, I can't believe for a nano second that the cost of producing these devices justifies the massive prices the high street audiologists charge. I won't use the NHS as I don't want to tie a brick to my ear, or the equivalent of the NHS tortoise shell glasses!!!