Millions of older adults can address hearing loss without visiting a doctor under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to allow over-the-counter sales of hearing aids. The risk of hearing loss doubles every decade of life, and now older adults can purchase basic hearing aids in pharmacies, retail stores and online. The move, expected to stimulate competition and bring down prices, promises to address the consequences of untreated hearing loss, including social isolation and higher risks of dementia, depression, functional disabilities and falls.
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