About one in three adults between 65 and 74 has some degree of hearing loss. By age 75, that number climbs to nearly half. Conversations become harder to follow. The TV volume creeps up. People start asking others to repeat themselves more often than they’d like.
For decades, getting hearing aids meant scheduling appointments with an audiologist, waiting weeks for a fitting, and spending $3,000 or more for a pair. In 2022, the FDA changed that. Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids became legal for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss — no prescription, no audiologist required. You can buy them online or at a pharmacy and fit them yourself.
The options have improved significantly since then. This guide covers the best OTC hearing aids available now, what to look for before you buy, and what these devices can and can’t do.
What to Look For in an OTC Hearing Aid
Hearing Loss Level
OTC hearing aids are designed for mild to moderate hearing loss. That generally means you can hear someone speaking to you in a quiet room but struggle in noisy environments, group conversations, or on the phone. If your hearing loss is severe — meaning you have difficulty hearing even one-on-one in a quiet space — you need to see an audiologist. OTC devices won’t be enough.
Style: Behind-the-Ear vs. In-the-Canal
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids sit on the top of the ear and run a thin tube to a speaker in the ear canal. They’re easier to handle and adjust, which matters when fine motor control is an issue. In-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-canal (CIC) devices are smaller and more discreet, but they’re also harder to insert, remove, and control.
For most seniors trying OTC hearing aids for the first time, a behind-the-ear or receiver-in-canal (RIC) style is the right starting point.
Battery Type: Rechargeable vs. Disposable
Rechargeable hearing aids are increasingly the standard. You charge them overnight and get a full day of use. No tiny batteries to fumble with, no running out of power unexpectedly. The main trade-off is that if you forget to charge them, you’re stuck waiting. Most rechargeable models come with a case that also works as a portable charger.
Disposable battery models still exist and can be useful for travel or as a backup. Battery size 312 is the most common for small hearing aids.
App Control
Most mid-range and premium OTC hearing aids include a smartphone app for adjusting volume, switching between programs (quiet room, restaurant, outdoors), and fine-tuning the sound profile. This is genuinely useful. The ability to adjust your hearing aids discreetly from your phone without reaching up to touch the device is a real quality-of-life improvement.
You don’t need to be highly tech-savvy to use these apps. The better ones are designed for simplicity — large buttons, clear labels, minimal menus.
Noise Reduction
Background noise is the main complaint from people with hearing loss. A family dinner is manageable; a crowded restaurant is exhausting. Look for devices with active noise reduction or directional microphones that focus on sounds in front of you. The quality of noise handling varies significantly between brands and price points.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Jabra Enhance Select 500 (Rechargeable)
Jabra is known for audio products, and their hearing aids reflect that background. The Jabra Enhance Select 500 is a receiver-in-canal design that sits behind the ear with a slim wire running to a small speaker in the canal.
Sound quality tests put the Jabra Enhance in the top tier of OTC devices. Speech clarity in quiet environments is strong, and the directional microphone system handles noisy settings better than most competitors at the same price range. Battery life runs about 30 hours per charge, which is longer than most comparable models.
The companion app is straightforward. You can adjust overall volume, treble and bass balance, and switch between four listening programs. Setup takes about 15 minutes using a self-guided hearing check built into the app.
Price is around $800 for a pair — firmly mid-range for OTC devices. Not the cheapest option, but the combination of sound quality and usability justifies the cost for most people.
Best for Discretion: Eargo 8
If visibility matters to you, the Eargo 8 is the most discreet option in the OTC market. It sits almost entirely inside the ear canal and is barely visible when worn. For people who have resisted hearing aids partly because of how they look, the Eargo 8 removes that barrier.
It’s rated IP68, meaning it handles water and sweat well — useful for an active lifestyle. Sound quality is solid for a CIC design, handling speech clearly in quiet environments.
The trade-offs are real. Battery life is 16 hours, noticeably shorter than the Jabra. The small size makes it harder to handle for people with reduced dexterity. And at around $1,000 per pair, it’s at the premium end of OTC pricing. If discretion is your top priority, those trade-offs may be worth it. If ease of use matters more, look at behind-the-ear options first.
Best Value: Audien Atom 2
At $289 per pair, the Audien Atom 2 is the most affordable hearing aid in this guide — and it outperforms what you’d expect at that price. It fits completely in the canal, is rechargeable, and includes background noise reduction and speech amplification.
Setup is simple: charge them, put them in, adjust volume with a small button. There’s no app required (and no app available, which is a limitation if you want precise sound customization). The volume control button is small, which some users find fiddly.
The Audien Atom 2 is the right choice for someone who wants to try OTC hearing aids without spending $800 or more. The sound quality won’t match the Jabra, but for mild hearing loss in relatively calm environments, it does the job. If you try them and feel you need more, you can upgrade later.
Best Bose-Powered Option: Lexie B2 Plus
The Lexie B2 Plus uses Bose audio processing, which gives it strong credentials in sound clarity. It’s a receiver-in-canal design with a charging case that provides an additional 18 hours of backup beyond the 18-hour battery life in the devices themselves.
The self-fitting app is one of the better-designed interfaces in the OTC category. You do a brief hearing check, and the app sets a starting point for your sound profile. From there, you can adjust in real time during an actual conversation or TV session, which makes fine-tuning feel intuitive rather than clinical.
Price is around $999 per pair. It earns that premium through sound quality and a genuinely well-thought-out app experience. A good option if you want Bose-level audio engineering in a hearing aid form factor.
Tips for Getting the Most From Your OTC Hearing Aids
Give yourself two weeks to adjust. Hearing aids change how sound reaches your brain. Everything — including your own voice — will sound different at first. Most people find this jarring. Stick with them for at least two weeks before deciding if they work for you. Your brain adapts, and the sounds that feel sharp and artificial on day one often feel normal by day ten.
Start in quiet environments. Don’t wear your new hearing aids to a noisy restaurant on day one. Start at home, in quiet conversation or while watching TV. Let your brain get used to the amplified sound before adding complexity.
Try the different listening programs. Most OTC hearing aids come with multiple programs for different environments. The “restaurant” or “noisy” program uses directional microphones differently than the quiet-room setting. Many people try only one program and decide the device doesn’t work, when switching programs would solve the problem.
Keep them clean and dry. Earwax builds up on the speaker tips and can muffle sound significantly. Clean the tips gently with a dry cloth or the cleaning tool included with your device. Store hearing aids in their case overnight — a charging case doubles as a dry storage environment.
Check if your doctor or pharmacist can help. Even though OTC hearing aids don’t require a prescription, many pharmacists and audiologists offer brief consultations to help you get the fit right. Some pharmacies with hearing departments will even let you try a model before you buy.
Know when to see an audiologist. OTC devices work well for mild to moderate hearing loss. If you’re still struggling after two weeks of proper use, or if your hearing feels like it’s changed suddenly, see an audiologist. Sudden hearing loss can have medical causes that need attention beyond a hearing aid.
Hearing changes often come alongside other health changes as we age. If you’re managing your health proactively, our best pill organizers guide and best blood pressure monitors guide cover the other tools that help seniors stay on top of their health at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OTC hearing aids and prescription hearing aids? OTC hearing aids are designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss and can be purchased without seeing a doctor. Prescription hearing aids require an audiologist fitting and are programmed precisely to your audiogram. Prescription devices typically offer more customization and are better suited for severe hearing loss, but they cost significantly more — often $3,000 to $7,000 per pair. OTC devices have narrowed the quality gap considerably in recent years.
Does Medicare cover OTC hearing aids? Medicare Part B does not cover hearing aids, including OTC models. Some Medicare Advantage plans include hearing aid benefits — check your specific plan. OTC hearing aids are generally HSA and FSA eligible, so using pre-tax healthcare savings dollars is a common way to offset the cost.
How long do OTC hearing aids last? Most quality OTC hearing aids last three to five years with proper care. The main failure points are the battery (rechargeable batteries lose capacity over time), the speaker tip (wax damage), and the body of the device (moisture damage). Keeping them clean and dry extends their life significantly.
Can I return OTC hearing aids if they don’t work for me? Most direct-to-consumer brands like Jabra, Eargo, and Audien offer trial periods ranging from 30 to 100 days. Check the return policy before you buy. Pharmacy and retail store purchases may have shorter return windows — often 30 days — and some charge a restocking fee. Read the fine print before you buy.
Are OTC hearing aids the same as hearing amplifiers (PSAPs)? No. Personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) simply make all sounds louder without distinguishing between speech and background noise. Since 2022, FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids are required to meet specific standards for frequency response, output limits, and fit. They’re a different product category. If you see something priced at $30 or $40 and described as a “hearing amplifier,” it’s a PSAP, not a hearing aid. See our full guide to the best hearing amplifiers for seniors for when a PSAP is the right starting point.
