Nano Hearing Aids – Are They Right For Me?

One of the most common questions we have heard lately is, “what are nano hearing aids?”. More and more people are hearing about them due to an increase in advertisements for these products, both online and on television. I did some research of my own, and here’s what I think! The FDA’s definition of a hearing aid is “any wearable instrument or device designed for, offered for the purpose of, or representing as aiding persons with or compensating for, impaired hearing.” However, not all hearing aids are the same. A nano hearing aid is an over-the-counter hearing aid. This means that they are meant only for individuals with mild hearing loss and are not based on a prescription. On the FAQ portion of their website, Nano prides themselves in “cutting out the middleman to save you money”. The middleman they are referring to is us – your audiologists! Online companies give glowing reviews all over their websites, and make it seem as if the hearing healthcare professional is a hassle. Although you may save money purchasing a device online, that’s the only advantage I can think of. Purchasing a device is just the first step. Without personalized care, counseling, and adjustments, the user may have little to no success with something purchased online. Another important point to keep in mind is, there is no one to physically check your ears when you start out with an online product. You may just have a wax build-up, or something more serious like a middle ear condition that needs medical attention. Secondly, without a hearing evaluation, a hearing device will not be fit properly. A hearing test determines the type and degree of your hearing loss and helps to guide the provider with the type of hearing aid that would work best. I often compare over-the-counter hearing aids to reading glasses. If you start to have difficulty reading small print you may go to your local drug store and purchase a pair of glasses. This may help at first, but if your vision gets worse, you eventually need to see an eye doctor for a vision exam and prescription glasses. They will be able to determine if you have something serious going on with your eyes, like Glaucoma, or what your eyeglass prescription should be. Many people are familiar with and appreciate the care that an eye doctor provides. These same principles can be applied to your ears and hearing aids. If you are researching online over-the-counter hearing aids and need advice, the first step is to have a hearing test. Most insurance companies cover the cost of this. My colleague Dr. Casson or I would be happy to sit down with you to explain the results of your hearing exam and provide the information you need to make an informed decision about your hearing healthcare. Dr. Tomlin